Friday, March 12, 2010

Half and Hold

"Alzheimer's is worse for those not inflicted, but forced to watch. A progressive disease that devastates those around the inflicted and leaves the inflicted standing in a thick fog, but otherwise unharmed," she had explained to many of her research subjects and their families. Lauren could feel it moving in her, the dampness settling into the deep recesses of her brain, slowing her thoughts and obscuring some memories completely. She worked diligently to hold on to her memories, using all she had learned in her studies of the disease and bargaining with God to let her keep the most important ones: her children's names; the joys and frustrations they brought her over the years; her own name; and an identity she could recognize as hers. In return, she would sacrifice her body and the other half of her mind. Just let me keep these few things, she prayed silently. It was a prayer she fervently wanted heard and ultimately knew would go unanswered.

*** One Minute Writer***

4 comments:

  1. This hits close to home for me. I wonder if one can know "really" know early on because I thought the only "true" way to know was with a brain autopsy seeing something in the cerebellum.....But things could have changed since I last did a real thorough look at the studies and diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

    An interesting look though. I like the flow.

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  2. Technically, no, you can't have a definitive diagnosis unless you have a brain autopsy. But people are diagnosed with it everyday. I didn't expect you to read my blog this early in the day. Check back late tonight or tomorrow. I am hoping to have time to expand on this. Maybe I shouldn't jinx it if it works as a stand alone already.

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  3. I suddenly got scared! I put some family members in this persons shoes and prayed that we don't have to deal with this!! Nicely written.

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