I do not fear death or aging...

What I am most concerned about is being debilitated and frail towards the end of my life. Which, as we all know could be any minute of any given day. Watching my SIX FOOT FIVE, smart, funny, and strong father fail was almost more that I could bear. With Alzheimer's and other physical complications, I did not like my "patient". I'm still in the grieving stage of this after 8 months and am stuck on ANGER. I'm angry that he didn't make plans for himself. He thought he'd die on the golf course after hitting a hole-in-one in a lightning storm, or a plane crash. He cancelled all his insurance because he (before I knew it) spent ALL his money going to Australia after his broker screwed him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I am THRILLED he travelled. He did with my mother and then with his companion of 2 decades after. When my mom was sick, she made SURE he went to Vega$ and attended parties without her. She left us at the age of 63.

If you are still with me, I want to tell you that I found out I have BOTH genetic markers for Alzheimer's. I also have other chronic diseases. I have found and can recommend doctors in Washington state and Colorado that can run these tests. The GOOD news is that they have told me that genetics is 20 to 30% and environment is the rest. I have found, through extensive research what can help ALL of us to utilize SCIENCE to improve the QUALITY of our lives, no matter how long we have.

I only wish I could have used this information for my 85.5 year old father. May not have saved my mother, but who knows? I just want to let go of the Anger Stage and remember my big strong Dad who really WAS an awesome guy!

Stay tuned for tips! XOXOXOXO

My father died in April

There. I "said" it. I don't cry for him much, but I am now. I can say that he did go peacefully in his sleep in his own bed in my home. What I hate is that his disease turned him into a man I didn't know and didn't like. On top of Alzheimer's, he had many other issues that left him almost unable to move without assistance, eat properly, or take care of his own basic needs. I was THISCLOSE to putting him in a nursing home and just almost vomited every time I came closer to that move. So it was a blessing that he went out on his own.

 

I know now that when I started this blog it was for vanity's sake. I just wanted to look good at 45. FEEL good at 45. Now I'm almost 52 and I'm afraid of becoming my dad. He did have a good long run at 85 1/2 years, but his side of the family lived to be close to or into their 100's! But he had almost NO quality of life. The fears I have about aging is not about vanity anymore. I have no children to take care of me and I have both genetic markers for Alzheimer's. However, I STILL want to look good!)

 

Having found the right doctor for me, I now have hope to drive away the fear of aging and genetics. Genetics play (roughly) 25% while environment 75%. Those are odds I like! Although I still have some very bad habits, I have incorporated what I've learned from my father's major caregivers (geriatrics), a life long study of nutrition and intensive research into Dis-ease. I will be sharing this information on this blog over time. I hope you will take time to check back and PLEASE subscribe! I will return the favor.

 

Yours in service,

S.

XOXOXO