Alzheimer's

Sometimes I wonder why God invented such debilitating diseases that affect millions in this world? What is the purpose of it? Alzheimer's Disease is one the leading causes of death among elderly people. What causes it? No one really knows. It has been linked to aluminum...which is in a number of things: Coke cans, deodorant, etc. But the CDC does not regulate this at all. It is at such a high number now than ever before. Maybe because people are living to be older?

My grandmother, Orene Head, has this horrible disease. She began about 9 years ago when she first lost her sense of smell and things have gone down hill ever since. She has always been a great and wonderful cook; this disease made her forget the simplest ingredients. She has had a love for my grandfather, Preston, since they were 16 and 17 years of age. This disease has caused her to forget him at times and even be afraid of him. She thinks family members (Aunt Nora and her mother, Mary) come to visit her on a regular basis. We have to tell them to go home and leave her alone. Sometimes, the things she does is humorous...you have to laugh at some of the things she does, like putting the dish detergent in the refrigerator, or the oven rack next to the washer. But it has continued to get worse. Things started progressing even worse when her sister, Rachel, died in March of 2007. Oh, how this broke her heart!

I remember when I was little, they would talk with each other everyday about things that was going on in their lives. They would see each other and visit with each other everyday. MawMaw always let Daniel and me do the craziest things - like jump on the beds, play kick ball in the house, build tents with blankets and chairs in the living room, and she would even get down under them with us even though her knees would be hurting her that day. She would cook anything you would ask, and make us fake snuff so that we could be like her...(oh, how we didn't know that snuff was really bad!) She would mix up cocoa and sugar and we would dip it just like her! She tought me how to make biscuits and how to be a good person. When I would leave the house, she would always say "remember who you are...you are a Head." I have always remembered that.

Things you take for granted everyday...
How they are so important once you realize what you have lost.
She is still alive, but it's so hard watching them die.
And she is only getting worse, day by day.
Please God, give us direction and give her peace.

She knows in her heart what is right and who we are, even though her mind tells her otherwise.