Posted 10-11-19
As we start year 2 of mom living in the nursing home, I feel kind of introspective. We live in such an amazing time these days in terms of being able to record our lives for our posterity. While this can be a curse, it can also be a tremendous blessing. Below is a MP3 recording of a cassette that has Christmas 1975 at the Applegate house. I have some home movies from then, but not many and they were sans audio. It is what we have. Today everyone is filming or recording absolutely everything, but it wasn’t always the case. YouTube and similar sites are stocked to the brim with footage that was intentional and otherwise…
There are a couple things I want to point out to you from this little audio glimpse into my childhood:
- At least three of the voices in this tape had/currently have Alzheimer’s. (My mom is recorded extensively in the first 30 minutes. My uncle starts at 30:00 or so and is in the 30:00’s quite a bit. My Grandma was also present, but I am not sure I heard her. She passed away over a decade ago of terrible co-morbid combo of congestive heart failure and dementia.
- My wonderful cousin Krista makes an appearance or two in the 30:00ish area as well. She works at mom’s nursing home kitchen staff today and is part of our care team.
- I was four years old during this recording and sang a little song at about the 28:00 mark and we all sang at around the 39:00 mark.
- ****Most importantly for the title of this article: I yelled, whined, begged and soprano-bellowed “It’s My Tohweenn!!!” (translation: turn) at 3:40, 4:25, 4:27, 6:11, 6:27, 8:49, 9:24, 10:07, 16:11, 16:18, 16:19, 18:11 and probably other times… I had extensive speech therapy from a wonderful lady named Ms. Mudd and can enunciate slightly better now. 😉
- Bonus at the very bottom of this article: The back side of the cassette was silly and muffled, but featured a song at 5:ish minutes called Heaven Knows by Donna Summer and Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad by Meat Loaf. More follows in the 1970s Disco and rock concert by my sister.(?) Lots of interesting gems of embarrassment in these gems. 😉
“It’s My Tohweenn!!!” is the topic at today’s cornbread table. While I have always known that this disease CAN be hereditary, I really hadn’t thought of it much until recently. With mom, her brother and her mom having the disease, we have to consider the real possibility that we will all three have the disease within 15-20 years. In 2035, will it be my tohweenn??? I hope and I pray that it isn’t my tohweenn.
So, is Alzheimer’s hereditary? The answer seems to be pretty complicated. There are genes that increase the odds dramatically and there are genes that demonstrate that you will get the disease. Put better (from ALZ.org) “Scientists know genes are involved in Alzheimer’s. Two categories of genes influence whether a person develops a disease: risk genes and deterministic genes. Alzheimer’s genes have been found in both categories. It is estimated that less than 1 percent of Alzheimer’s cases are caused by deterministic genes (genes that cause a disease, rather than increase the risk of developing a disease).” Early onset dementia seems to be much more likely passed generationally. If you mother has early onset dementia (beginning 65 and younger), you have a 50/50 shot at inheriting the mutated gene that demonstrates an increased risk. No guarantees, but the odds are less in your favor. Late onset dementia isn’t as genetic-driven and has no guaranteed markers. However, as the ALZ.org website states, “The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s is increasing age, but Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. While age increases risk, it is not a direct cause of Alzheimer’s.” There is much more that could be said and I will undoubtedly beat that dead horse soon enough, but I will stop now, deferring to the links I have included throughout the piece and below so you can read on your own.
So, I have two generations in a row and an uncle with the disease on mom’s family. Mom was first diagnosed at 65ish…right at the threshold of “early-onset”. But how should I now live moving forward? It seems logical to start now doing the things that help hold off the dementia demon as best I/we can. First, anything that is good for the heart is good for the brain and will help it fight. Exercise, diet, drinking water, sleep enough, etc…all of the things we talk about often. I should watch for warning signs, for sure. Second, I need to leverage technology to help preserve my data, whether the data is located in a computer or in my brain. I will pick up here Monday because this is a topic worthy of a few days of consideration (and dead horse beating). Have a nice weekend! 🙂
Links to consider/homework for Monday:
Link Link Link Link Link Link Link Link Link Link Link
Update: My brother is in town and mom was very cogent again today for him. She even pecked around on the piano and sang with them. I hope to have pictures/videos soon. The ups and downs of this life are more intense than any movie or thrill ride. I am just happy that she is happy and all is well for now!
#EndALZ
Below is some bonus footage from the back of the cassette. It isn’t important for the article, but it is pretty fun and kind of interesting since it snapshots life in the mid- to late-1970’s. There is some powerful singing too. lol
Side 2 of the cassette:
Absolutely love listening to these tapes. Thanks for sharing this very special and private l time with your family showing the love and fun that was shared in this beautiful.occasion.
It was fun picking out your voices and the little songs were delightful.
What a treasure to be able to go back in time and share these happy moments again with your family.
God bless you Mark. We continue to pray for your mom and for a cure for this dreaded desease that robs families of their precious loved ones way to soon.
Again, thanks for sharing things so close to your heart and for working so hard to educate and help others. You are a blessing.
Thank you very much! 🙂 Those were simpler times. It is a good reminder that simpler is often better.