Dad’s behavior began to change in 2010. He was always a quiet, reserved man, but his demeanor transformed and his communication lessened. As a family, we became very concerned when Dad began to forget things like his route home from church or picking Mom up from the train. He became withdrawn and seemed depressed. Changes were happening in his behavior: he was eating off others’ plates, providing unusual answers to questions, ignoring the ringing telephone, misplacing household items. My brothers and I urged my mom to take Dad to the doctor. After a physical examination and a battery of memory tests, the diagnosis was Alzheimer’s.
Natalie with her father
Since 2011 and that diagnosis, Mom and my brother Jon have been Dad’s caretakers. Until about a year ago, Dad was able to use the toilet on his own, move about with just simple verbal cues, put on his pajamas and provide the answer of “Yeah,” even when on most occasions he likely meant “No.”
So much has changed in a year.
Dad hasn’t prepared a meal on his own, chosen his own clothes, dressed himself, bathed himself, used the bathroom on his own, spoken a sentence, used the telephone, gotten a glass of water for himself, opened the refrigerator, shaved himself, said “Hello” in more than a year. My dad is forever changed, and so is the entire Ziemba family.
This 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be my fourth Walk. Why do I walk? I walk because I am convinced there is a cure. I walk because I am convinced that further research is required and that we’re on the brink of a major medical breakthrough. I walk because I demand both action and funding from policymakers. I walk because it’s a way to bond with others who are experiencing what we are. I walk because it’s meaningful. I walk to be part of a community. I walk to raise awareness, to advocate for this cause.
—Natalie Ziemba
Make It Better is a proud sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, North Shore held on Saturday, Sept. 17 in Glenview at Gallery Park. By participating in a Walk to End Alzheimer’s, you will be supporting Alzheimer’s Association programs that provide care and support to people right here in Illinois and funding cutting edge research aimed at creating a world without Alzheimer’s®. To find the Walk nearest to you and learn about creating, joining or supporting a team, visit www.alz.org/walk.
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