Sad, sad story on Darrell Royal

[Steak Snabler]

Had no idea about this. Was his battle with Alzheimer's common knowledge? (the story doesn't really say)

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/royals-fight-alzheimers-hope-raise-money

EDIT: I guess if he's got an Alzheimer's foundation, the story has been out there. But I'd somehow never heard it.

 

[Mark2010]

Had heard of it once or twice in recent years.

Have a family member with Alzheimer's. Hard thing to deal with.

 

[RubberSoul1979]

Sad stuff. The generation, especially among football coaches, that survived the Depression and fought World War II is rapidly leaving us. Don't these diseases know that when the body dies, they do too?

 

[Armchair_QB]

His wife finally went public with his issues earlier this year when they announced the creation of an Alzheimer's research fund. Up to that point it was something that was "known" but not confirmed or talked about much.

 

[Bamadog]

My grandfather and my great-grandmother died of Alzheimer's. It just robs you of your loved ones, one memory at a time. When neither one remembered who I was, it broke my heart.

I hate that for Darrell Royal. Always had great respect for him as a coach, but even more when he decided to leave the rat race and enjoy the rest of his life. Smart man.

 

[old_tony]

Alzheimer's really, truly sucks.

But it also adds to my fascination with the human brain. That Royal, in his mind, can go back to a time where his deceased son and daughter are still alive is not such a bad thing to me. Sure, they're not really alive. But it sure adds fuel to the idea that just about everything in life is a "state of mind."

I don't think we'll ever fully understand the human brain.

 

[Tarheel316]

Very sorry to hear about this. Royal is one of the all-time greats.

 

[Greenhorn]

Royal was led to believe, well into his adult life, that his mother died giving birth to him. She didn't. She died shortly after due to cancer but the stigma of it was so great a lie was put forth.