President's Message

For all those people out there that believe Alzheimer's disease is just a memory disease that affects older people, I am here to share my story.

At the very young age of 59, my mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Mother had been a physical therapist for 30 years, head of the therapy department, and graduate of Okalahoma University.

Alzheimer's disease is taking my mother. She cannot drive, work or be alone. Mother has to be reminded to take a bath and battles to have her hair washed. She doesn't always remember when she's called me, so sometimes we talk 5 times a day or more. She doesn't always know that she is hungry or hasn't eaten, so I will fix her lunch.  We don't talk a lot anymore;  I mean we do, but the same conversation takes place several times a day. I cannot tell her about my troubles or my feelings, because she does not understand. She simply cannot. She is angry, and so am I.

I take every day as a blessing because unlike so many of you, I still have my mother (well, kind of). I have a new version of her, and I am still trying to come to terms with this "new" Mother. Please know that Mother was my best friend with whom I shared everything. Now, Mother knows I have a boyfriend, but doesn't know his name. She knows when I am happy, but never when I am sad. That would be too much for her to handle.  Because of Alzheimer's, I have developed a new relationship with my father and he is whom I confide.

Alzheimer's disease is a truly devastating and horrific disease. I have always referred to it as the "devil on earth". I believe that is what it is.  It does not care what color you are, how educated you are, or how old you are;  when it finds you, it has it's way with you.  No medicine or doctor can cure it, Alzheimer's wins.  Alzheimer's disease destroys anything and anyone in its path.

So this is what I know for sure:  I will not stop fighting to find a cure for this malicious and slow killer.  I will never quit trying.  But for those of you who are out there and still think Alzheimer's disease just affects your memory, I am here to tell you, Alzheimer's affects so much more.

Respectively,

Shannon Riviere

President, YAAA!