For those of you who have been keeping an eye on my blog…. you’ve probably noticed I donate quite a lot of my time to non- profit organizations.  The Alzheimer’s Association is just one of about three groups I work with on a consistent basis.  There are a lot of organizations I could choose to work with, but the Alzheimer’s Association is just one I’ve chosen to work with because of a personal impact Alzheimer’s has had on my life.

Often times it’s assumed I’ve had someone close to me, a family member, family friend etc. diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  In actuality, this is not the case.  My first experiences with a person affected with the disease dates back to when I was about 16 years old.  Few people know this… but my first paying job,  other than baby sitting,  was working as a CNA in a nursing home.  I worked this job every summer and some weeknights throughout the school year until I graduated and moved onto college.  In college, I continued to work in health care but instead of working in a nursing home I chose to work in home health care.  The hours were flexible and the job helped pay my way through school.

In those first few years at the nursing home I was frequently assigned to work in the Alzheimer’s wing.  I worked with numerous patients every single day.  All were affected by the disease in various ways.  Although the job could be beyond difficult on some days all in all it was a rewarding experience, one which I will never forget.  In fact,  I still remember some of those people vividly.  One of them in particular, Nellie…. I don’t think I’ll ever forget.  By the time I met Nellie she was in the final stages of the disease.  At his point she was not really with us most of the time, but every once in a while she’d start talking about a traumatic event from her past.  To her it was if that moment was happening all over again.  It was heartbreaking to see her relive those moments over and over and of course all I could ever think is  “please, please…..I don’t ever want to have Alzheimer’s”.

So… with that said.  I guess Nellie and countless other people I’ve helped are the reason I support the Alzheimer’s Association every year.  My hope is that individuals and families will someday not have to experience the heart ache of this disease.  The least I can do is take photos of all the those walking to support the cause, providing them with a memento from their day.