Help James raise money

My father and our family struggled with Dad’s bipolar disorder for almost all of his life. Finally, at around the age of 65, we were able to get him on the right combination of medications to really give him clarity and stability after a hip surgery left him hospitalized with what we were told at the time was anesthesia-related dementia. He was a completely different person when the cognitive impairment subsided enough to bring him home from the hospital - in a very good way. We had hope for the first time, in my lifetime at least, that we were putting the challenges of bipolar disorder behind us. We thought the cognitive impairment that had started with the surgery would continue to improve and we’d enjoy the rest of Dad’s life with this new and improved Dad! It was about 4 months later when his psychiatrist dropped the bombshell diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s. Later, additional testing determined that it was not Alzheimer’s but another vascular dementia related to strokes he had suffered. My Mom and I were Dad’s primary caregivers for a few years until my sister moved back to help in August of 2012. About 8 months later, it was obvious that this type of caregiving was way too much - even for three of us - to handle. Dad entered Golden Hills Nursing Home in May of 2013 and passed away there on December 13th, 2017.

In honor of my Dad, I’m once again participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to raise funds and awareness to advance the fight against dementia of all kinds — funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research.

Please support with a gift of any amount! And, let me know if you’d like to join our fundraising team or walk with us! Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping and neither are we. Families facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia need us now more than ever — and with your help, we can be there for them by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s #ENDALZ

Thank you so much for your love and support!