Outside The Gates Ministries

Happy Easter to all our families and friends during this Holy Season. Our daily prayers and deep faith is that these Holy Easter Truths will be personally embraced by all those we love and pray for daily.

Bob and Marie

Watching the Hallmark Movie (yes I’ve turned in one of those folks!) - and it was called “Our Italian Christmas Memories.” It is about a man with Alzheimer’s and he goes to the doctor for a second check-up.

The doctor asks him a serious of questions:
1. What is your birthday
2. When were you last here? (Really - I could not tell anybody when i was last there. You have records - check them!)
3. The doctor told him, “I asked you a question and told you to remember it for when you came back in. Can you tell me that question?” Are you freaking kidding me? I cannot remember what I went into the next room for - much less what someone asked me months ago.
4. How many nickels are in 60 cents. I’m still counting fingers to make sure I am right.

Granted - I am not making light of this - but I am saying not being able to answer these questions does not mean you have Alzheimer’s. What they are trying to measure is the progress of the disease. I learned you never fully are 100% sure until they do a biopsy of the brain but there are signs.

At the evaluation with Mom - Dad and I took her to a week respected clinic in Atlanta - it was an eye opener when the doctor asked her to draw a clock face, and put the numbers 1-12 on the face - and then to add the hands on the clock for a certain time. That was when I knew 100% she had it. I Kind of knew it before this time - but she put all numbers 1-12 in the spot you normally saw the 1-6.

If you are struggling with a family member with Alzheimer’s I’d be happy to be there to talk with you. It is a horrible disease and so unfair - and it’s is something so very hard to understand.

JONNE CRICK

Share with us - what is one of the hardest things you have experienced with your loved one with Alzheimer’s?