Our New Normal, our journey with Alzheimer

June 20, 2019 - We left for Hawaii for 10 days.  Bob did pretty good, no panic attacks but he could not figure out how to get to his room in the hotel.  Someone was always assigned to be with him. I did get him a medical assist necklace where we would be contacted if he got lost and he wore that everyday. Overall he really enjoyed the vacation with our whole family.

April 19, 2019 - Bob had another panic attack at Walmart. We miscommunicated and he did not know where to go to meet me.

March 19, 2019 - We found out Bob does not qualify for the Trailblazer study. He had too little tau, which is good overall but not for the study.

January 18, 2019 - New Year and we decided to be a part of a new clinical trial called Trailblazer.  We will meet on February 8, 2019 to see if Bob can participate in this trial.  It will last for a 1 1/2 years he will have to have an infusion every 30 days plus PET scans.  It is a drug trial that will try to remove the "beta amyloid" in the brain that causes Alzheimer's.  Of course Bob could get the placebo.  We put it all in the Lord's hands.

October 31, 2018 - It has been a rollercoaster ride, since Bob has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  We are in the Washington University study, Bob has undergone a lumbar puncture, 2 MRIs and a Pet Scan, blood tests and a sleep study.  Bob has not experienced any panic attacks since the last one in April, so that is good.  Bob is on Aricept for memory loss and I think it has helped him.  The only other new So far I think his progression is very slow.  Thank you Lord!  What I have noticed is I get asked the same question several times a day.  Things I tell him he forgets immediately almost.  His driving is still very good but the doctor explained that is a long term memory, so I am thankful for that.  I am noticing that he is having some trouble watching tv shows, especially if they jump from present to past, Bob gets confused.  We are coping and I just pray that Bob's personality stays intact, he is very laid back and does not argue with...

 March 26, 2016  - This was the first punch in the stomach for me. I call "punch in the stomach" a new realization or something that happens that makes me face reality when I have been trying to ignore it. Here is mine, it was Saturday before Easter and I just made my grandkids 5 Easter baskets and gave them to Bob to hide in the basement like he has always done. The next morning when the kids arrived, they asked if PawPaw had hidden the baskets and did he hide them in hard places to find. I said lets ask him, when we asked PawPaw that question, he said I don't know what you are talking about. I said remember yesterday when I gave you the kids Easter baskets and he said no! This was my punch in the stomach. My first with Bob, I knew then something was wrong. My son-in-law Nick went downstairs and found them just sitting all together in the back of the basement not hidden. Up to this time Bob was forgetful but just the normal stuff. I just thought he tuned me out, I was al...