A fresh new voice!

Alzheimers

By John Mayo (D., DeSoto County)

Mississippi House of Representatives

August 18, 2010

This afternoon I attended a conference the Mental Health Department and Alzheimers caregivers were having and participated on a legislative panel.

I went early to hear a presentation by Dr. Stephen Hume and his wife (I apologize but she goes by her own last name and I cannot remember it...I got Dr. Hume's business card).  They are both long time toilers and authors of numerous publications on the topic and its impact on both the individual and the persons surrounding the patient.

A short while ago, Dr. Hume was diagnosed with the disease.   The doctor is now the patient. 

He spoke of his life and changes that have occurred to it over the last two years.  She spoke (and they work together) of his degrading intellect at work and home. 

"I saw his lack of focus, his inability to complete a project.  I am surprised our boss did not recognize it before me."

He spoke of his gradual decline. 

"At the end of the day, I make piles, stacks if you will of tasks I have to work on this next day so that when I come in, I can have my cup of coffee, sit down and take them one at a time.  I began coming in, sit in my chair and remain there for an hour before I realized I had something to do."

They spoke of their relationship. 

"It was the most difficult task I have ever had to face," she said.  "We go camping every weekend, and I chose one evening while we were sitting around our campfire.  That conversation was the hardest I ever started in my life."

"I have an open mind," he said, "I invite discussion, give and take on the issues we faced at work.  I tried to find consensus.  I found myself ordering subordinates to do what I wanted.  I didn't want to hear a lot of people talking."

"Steve is an intellectual.  He prides himself in knowing things.  And, now that which he is known for most is fading away."

"I was an extrovert," He ended, "I enjoy being around people discussing issues.  A few weeks ago, we went to my niece’s wedding.  I left the reception and found myself sitting in my car for a half hour.  There was just too much busy stuff going on that I could not absorb."

"We had planned to retire in 10 years, and enjoy sailing and going places as we camp. Steve would consult part-time.  Now our investments have all eroded.  But, what's worth, we will be lucky if Steve is "Steve" in the next eight years.

"No one survives alzheimers," he ended.

The audience was silent and then applauded.

They talked of other issues in their life.  Another person from the Alzheimers Association on the panel talked about some research being done.

What LOVE this couple has for one another!  As an aside, I wish some people I know or Hollywood would look at them and learn what marital commitment looks like.

If you want to learn more about this disease that knows no age, race, a creed, go to their website www.alz.org/index.asp.

That should be the homepage.  Scroll down and look for the "Ten Signs of Alzheimers" they just posted recently.

Dr. Hume went through all 10.  He and his wife related when they recognized each.

And, finally...I just realized that I wrote I could not remember her name at the beginning.  Please, do not write back and point that out.  I am not in the mood.