Diseases - IlCat.org

Wayne Said:

Do you want to remember?

We Answered:

Lol.That's silly.Everyone knows that it's not the government; it's the aliens.

Jill Said:

What grade would you give this piece of coursework?

We Answered:

i only skim-read it...but i would give it a B and maybe an A

Ricardo Said:

Proofread and help strengthen this personal memoir? Ten points!?

We Answered:

Your essay is actually excellent as is, but here are a few small suggested changes.

Growing up, I immensely enjoyed listening to the old fairy tales my grandmother would often share with me as I was being tucked into bed. I would always smile approvingly when she concluded with, “and they lived happily ever after. The end.” Looking back, I wish now that her own story was that simple, that she could get her “happily ever after” ending. While thinking of her and looking out into a sea of familiar faces, I’m grateful merely because I can recognize each and every one of them. I’m thankful also because, unlike my dear grandmother now, I know who I am. My grandmother, Lula May Vanuken, is a victim of Alzheimers disease.

To explain it briefly, Alzheimers disease is a brain disorder WHICH RESULTS IN severe memory loss and interferes with daily life. Unfortunately, it is a progressive and fatal disease for which there is AS yet no cure. Watching my grandmother, a woman I grew up with, struggle with this horrible disease has made a profound impact on my life today and forever. I have learned to cherish every moment I spend with my loved ones. I have learned to tell them, before it’s too late, what they mean to me. Most importantly, I have learned to look past all the negativity and stress in this life, and cherish every moment given to me. THROUGHOUT the course of my grandmother’s Alzheimers, my personality has been altered and molded to help make me into the person that I am today.

By the time her dreadful illness was discovered, I was no longer a young child. At the age of fourteen, I had outgrown her fairy tales. However, our relationship had not changed much over the years. She was still the wise woman I would often look to for both advice and consolation. She was my frequent life saver in the sea of choppy, angry waves life often threw at me.

THEN, GRADUALLY, I begin to notice her faltering memory. At first, it was subtle: forgetting where she HAD placed items, forgetting the day of the week, and other common mishaps frequently chalked up to OLD AGE. Eventually, it worsened and interfered with even minimal, routine activities such as cooking. For example, one day she asked me where she had put the flour as she rummaged through her kitchen cabinets. I had to lead her to the cabinet in which she had always placed the flour for as long as I could remember.

Soon after, she was asked by my family to make a doctor’s appointment for this growing problem and she reluctantly complied. However, no one expected the doctor to sit us down and gravely explain to us that she had developed an early stage of Alzheimer’s. After this, I remember watching her even as she cooked and cleaned, always ready to assist should she forget something. I still remember the tearful voice in which she SUGGESTED, “MAYBE when I get really sick you can help your mother take care of me.” It was from that day forward that I felt our roles slowly but surely change as I BEGAN TO FUNCTION AS a frequent babysitter and caregiver.

Sadly, it wasn’t long before the effects of this disease forced her into an ASSISTED living center. While it was A RELIEF to see that she had help, it was also disappointing to see her stubborn independence begin to slip away. Along the with the rest of the family, I took turns watching and attending to her. Unbelievably, we grew even closer together. Before long, we knew each other like a reader does his or her favorite book. At a young age, I found myself slowly discovering what family members should mean to each other: unwavering support and love.

However, it was not even a full year before her Alzheimer’s begin progressing at SUCH a sudden, alarming rate that the doctors ordered constant supervision for her. Unfortunately, my family had trouble finding a residence in which she could stay. Due to all their demanding jobs, no one in my family was available to give her the supervision that was needed. Eventually, it was arranged that she would stay with my family. During the day, since I was on summer break, I watched her until my mother arrived home from work, which was usually around six in the evening. For the duration of my summer break, I became her main care-giver.

It wasn’t long until we fell into a daily routine. My grandmother, who I frequently referred to as ‘Granny’, normally woke up between five and seven in the morning. AS soon as I heard the wheels of her walker going down the hallway, I would rise from my bed and make her breakfast: coffee and cornflakes with two teaspoons of sugar. At this time, I would also give her her medicine and take care of any other needs she MIGHT have. After this, we sometimes would sit outside and talk or help each other with the household chores. Once she would tire of this, I would normally take her into the [cut off here!]

Maria Said:

How to deal with a difficult grand-mother who's living at home?

We Answered:

If your grandmother really is in the early stages of Alzheimer disease you are in for a very rough time. My mom got it in 1994-95, and the first signs were being quarelsome, suspicious and complete denial of ever being wrong.
You might have your mom to get her a complete check up too. There can be other causes, like clogged arteries, depression, anemia, and a few more.
It's not her fault of course, and this happens to most of them. I was very hurt, upset and exasperated. This is something you and your mom will have to understand. If she accuses your mom or others of stealing her pillows, hiding her glasses or making her soup too hot on purpose that is a big clue.
I would suggest for everyones sake to start looking about care homes. Some homes are for mild stage and they get a lot of freedom.
My mom gave some theives a check, we opened a new account for her and she gave one of the new checks to the baddies. She also had several minor car accidents, fed the cats kitty litter and left a burner on.
It truly feels almost worse to put them in a residence and to bury them. It needs to be done at some point, but it is hard to do.
I wish you and your family luck.

Arnold Said:

Alzheimer's disease?

We Answered:

Yes they are, as non-use of their body tightens up the muscles. There are also bed sores, hygiene issues and feeding tubes.

And yes, they are aware of all of it. Morphine is the drug of choice in the end stages of the disease to assist in comfort for the patient.