I’ve always thought that the more evident decline in an Alzheimer patient appears as a result of a traumatic event in his/her life, this is an opinion and is not based upon a formal study. Today I want to talk about Jose and how he has suffered a life, not living. I sincerely regret to say that due to taxing personal tragedies, Jose has thrown in the towel and has preferred to forget everything, all at the hand of Mr. Alzheimer.
Today I want to share with you the story of Jose told by his son Jorge, the only one of his five children in the position to assist and care for cover his father’s needs. I realized they were five children, one left the family 20 years ago. His other three children are Joseph, Mary and Nati.
Joseph and Mary suffer from schizophrenia and his Nati is deaf-mute. Jorge recalls with an incredible sadness how much he fought to help his brother Joseph live with his disease, he wanted to commit suicide and suffered from outbreaks of aggression. Joseph entered a specialized center where he was treated and was helped to cope with his disease.
One Sunday, the brothers said goodbye to each other like many others and after a few hours Jorge received a call informing him of Joseph’s untimely death. Joseph passed away by choking, right as he had reached his most stable state. How unfair life is!
Jose and his daughters could not even attend the final viewing of Joseph as they had no strength to address the situation. From that day the affects of Alzheimer’s began to worsen for Jose (father). After eight months, his disconnection with the world is almost complete; he needs help for the most basic activities of everyday life and spends the day in deep aloofness. I regret to say that every day he walks away a little farther away from us.
Jorge fights to find solutions that improve quality of life of his parents and sisters, they cannot study, go out alone, or pursue friendships, and need complete supervision. Natividad, Jorge’s mother, is 80 years old and is in charge of caring for the daily needs of her husband and two daughters Aid continues to come from Dependency Act, but nevertheless Jorge comments that THE BEST THERAPY IS TO FACE REALITY AND STAY STRONG.
