ALZHEIMER'S ROBS US ALL…
If you are someone that believes in the devil -- there he is… Our very Drug Companies. Not only do they not seek out, straight-up cures.., the drugs they develop to combat diseases like alzheimer's are some of the most toxic, on the market. And if the shareholders still aren't satisfied they create another one, that not only doesn't work.., it does massive damage, in the guise of a cure...
Most of us have heard of someone suffering from alzheimer's, maybe a family member or a friend of a friends, family member. For me.., it is a lot closer to home -- my Mom. It doesn't get much closer, than that… And it ain't pretty.
My mother, basically raised my sister and me by herself... Being a divorced (not really divorced) single mother, sure ain't easy. I have vivid images of seeing her coming down the street carrying bags of groceries, from the bus stop, she would get off at every night 6:15 - 6:30pm after a full day at some shitty job, just so her kids would not go without…
She was the wife of an alcoholic NYC detective of Scotch / Irish decent -- you bet your ass she was a tough broad -- she had to be… Not only would she defend her children, at the catholic schools run by nuns, who thought nothing of raising a yard stick to it's students -- "If you ever put your f*cking hands on any of my kids, I'll ram that thing down your throat." That is a direct quote from my mother -- though, I doubt these days, she could even remember, almost coming to blows with Sister Mary Dolan. Because my Mom, my hero… Is now suffering from Alzheimer's.
That is what this disgusting, debilitating, mind-altering disease will do…
It will slowly, but surely, not only rob you of your memories.., but of your very own family. It sneaks up on the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with memories.., a good decade before you have any idea what is happening… Plaque slowly starts to form and twisted fibers of protein called, tau wraps around vital cell transport and then collapse forming tangles which prevent nutrients from moving through the cells.., and they die.
At least, that's what they tell us…
All I know is… Is there is absolutely no signs of any kind of degenerative brain disease, anywhere in my family. So, the diagnoses of Alzheimer's was a complete shock to everyone. But, before the that.., there were signs, we all ignored -- including myself. Doctors, tell me, it wouldn't have made a difference, once this disease begins, it is a long slow progression, into the unknown.
And they are not kidding, when they say.., UNKNOWN.
Now, I am not a big fan of the medical profession, by any means, at all… To me, it is nothing but big business, concerned with profits for the drug companies that fund them. Including the government -- that's just another "gravy train" to these quacks, who won't even touch you, if you don't have the proper insurance. Yeah, that's what healing is all about, right?
You see, Im the "outsider" in my family -- the black sheep, as they say… Don't get me wrong, they love the hell out of me… But, they are more main stream… They don't, necessarily have the views about the medical industry, as me. To my sister's credit.., she will research the shit out of any drug that is recommended by these so-called healers and will always settle on the least toxic, if any… And, she has been by my mothers side the whole way.
Me… I get to see my Mom from time to time. And, it is not the same -- she is not the same… We used to talk on the phone for hours, when I lived In LA, or off somewhere fabulous pouring drinks… But she would always love to hear what I was up to -- good or bad, she wanted to know how I was… My sister was constantly getting mad at me, for being so blatantly honest with her -- "You can't tell mommy, you had had to answer the your door with a sawed-off shot gun because you thought it was some junkie with a knife (another original quote).
But my mom, always knew I could take care of myself… She used to tell me and everyone she knew, that… She doesn't anymore. And she can't remember all my crazy stories. And five minutes after I leave, from one of our visits.., she can't remember I was even there… I miss my mom.., the way she was -- so much so, I am weeping like a baby as I type this… And that is what this disease will do -- it will rob you off your very own mother.., and at the same time, make you feel like a helpless piece of shit because there is ABSOLUTELY nothing you can do about it.
What makes this worse, for me.., is… Whenever something was going down, that my sister couldn't handle and it was serious -- dead serious… They would call me. And no matter where I was, what I was doing -- I took care of it! And, when I couldn't -- I called someone and they took care of it. The most serious of these situations… Was when my 70 year old mother was run down by a bus in front of the Port Authority in NYC. I was living in Los Angeles and my sister didn't want even want to call me, in fear of what would happen to the bus driver…
Finally, when I was told… I got on a red-eye and went straight to the hospital. And when my mom woke up that morning, still foggy from all the morphine -- I was sitting by her side. She thought she was hallucinating -- that I wasn't even there… I stuck around for a few days.., and pretty much lived at the hospital. The doctors told me that the side-view mirror of the bus knocked my mom over and the back wheels ran over the back of her calves. It created some much heat, that it liquified the fat in her legs and they popped like balloons.
But, before I left… I would have one more meeting with her doctors.., and they assumed me she would be very well taken care of -- I mean, they saved her legs, when most would have just amputated… The attack on the World Trade Center happened not too long after my mothers accident and all the video tapes from the Port Authority were supposedly stored down there, somewhere.., were destroyed. So when her case was coming to court, there was little chance of ever finding out, who was driving the bus that ran over my mom or the company that employed him.
Besides her legs never being the same, again… Now, the fact that this bus driver and bus company were going to get away scott-free was screwing with her mind. My sister called and informed me of all this.., and once we hung up the phone, I called an old, old friend -- named Snake. Snake was the ex leader of various biker gangs.., and a very dangerous man. But you have never met anyone, more loyal.
When I told him what happened to my mom -- I could barely finish, before he cut me off… "Don't worry, Mack -- I'll take car of it… Your family." And, the next time you call me use this number. And he gave me a phone number to a more secure line. Now, I wasn't completely sure.., what he meant, when he said -- "I'll take care of it." I had seen him do some pretty bad things to people, in the past. That's why you had to be careful, when you called him...
But, things were different, now… He was no longer in a biker gang.., and was probably the best Private Investigator on the whole east coast. My sister freaked out when I called her and told her she had to go meet some guy named Snake on exit 4 of the New Jersey Turnpike and to bring mommy -- he wanted to meet her…
And he was a great comfort to my mom and sister… More than all the lawyers, cops and every other kind of agency that claimed it was trying to be of assistance. This man, who at first look.., would scare the shit out of you. A man society would label, as a bad person, knowing nothing about him…
Needless to say.., before the court date, the bus company (which before Snake was involved was a mystery) called with a settlement offer -- a big one. Snake said take it, your Mom needs to move on with her life. "This is affecting her mind, Mack." He would never tell me if he ever found the driver…
A few facts…
Of the 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer's, an estimated 5.2 million people are age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65
One in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer's disease.
By mid-century, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds.
Alzheimer's is the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
There are approximately 700,000 people dying each year because they have Alzheimer's.
A woman's estimated lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer's at age 65 is 1 in 6, and as real a concern as breast cancer
An estimated 800,000 Americans with Alzheimer’s are living alone.
Im sure this is not the kind of post you were expecting, when you saw the title… And it was not the post I intended to write, either. I was going to go through, some of the treatments (that are useless). Maybe list some alternative methods.. How it progresses from forgetting little things -- to not remembering your own son. Or the violent outbursts, followed by uncontrollable sobs of despair…
You can google all that, I guess…
But this is what came out… It was the last thing, of any kind of importance, I got to do for my mother.., before she started to slip away from us all -- and even from herself… The last thing, she might be able to remember, somewhere.., in her now deteriorating mind.
I certainly don't know what causes Alzheimer's.., neither does the whole medical profession. And, all they seem to do is keep coming up with are new drugs to make the drug companies billions -- and do little, to nothing for the people they prescribe them to… But, I do know.., my mother was never the same after that accident. And I myself, am convinced it had something to do with her present condition. But, there is know one I can call, this time to take care of it. Im helpless. Completely helpless. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it. Alzheimer's robs us all...
Below are some pictures and documentation of my Moms ordeal:
If your mother is still around.., maybe you haven't spoken to her in a while… Give her a call today and let her know how much she means to you -- You never know…
Image Source: 1
Oh bloody hell! That's one agonising post to read, I cannot imagine how horrible it is to live through it.
Your loyalty is testament to your mom's skill as a mother. It's such a damned shame that this vicious disease is robbing you of her <3
Heartfelt emotions in this post... much love to you and yours xx
Thanks @michelle.gent... You sentiment is very much appreciated. It is not easy, to say the least...