Melissa Isaacson's 'Fade to Black' -- an Alzheimer's story

Please, if you do nothing else today, read Missy Isaacson's gut-wrenching piece from today's Chicago Trib magazine, about losing both of her parents to Alzheimers.

Just a beautiful and touching story.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-mxa0113magalzheimerjan13,0,1988190.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

 

I always make a point of reading her sports takeouts. I'll read this later when I get the time. Thanks, 21.

 

I came on to post this, 21. Nice job.

I had to stop a few times because I couldn't read through the tears.

 

What a powerful story. I only know Missy a little bit through seeing her at big events (I think we had seats next to each other at a couple of regionals or Final Fours or whatnot) and through a couple of mutual friends/colleagues. I can only imagine how difficult that was.

 

This was very well done. Very matter-of-fact. I really do appreciate stories told in this manner, though of course, Melissa arrived at this story through the worst possible circumstances.

 

Wow. What a story.

That's all I can say right now.

 

This is a very powerful excerpt...

"Occasionally, they speak to one another, though very rarely in any manner that makes sense. But every night, after dinner, Jimmy and Maria sit the two of them next to each other on the den couch, place my mother's hand in my father's and leave them there alone together. They never pull apart, Maria says. Somehow, this is one thing that seems to make sense to them."

 

Great, but sad story. I'm glad I have the news on and am im-ing a friend or else I would have shed more tears than I did.

This part hit home:

My grandma with Alzheimer's fell on Christmas day and fractured her hip. My parents were down in Fla., this past week to help out my aunt who takes care of my grandma.

 

And I walk away from reading this story, with tears in my eyes, thinking, "my gosh how powerful the written word can be."

 

What a fascinating, heart-breaking story. Missy told it beautifully.