We’ve all had life-changing experiences. My first, and most impactful, happened when I was too young to have memory.
In 1956, I was diagnosed with spinal meningitis when I was two and a half years old. We lived in small-town Ohio where the undertaker doubled as the ambulance driver. I was rushed to the nearest large children’s hospital and put in isolation. Two other children were also hospitalized with the same infection. They died within days. As a last-ditch effort, doctors drilled three burr holes in my tiny skull to relieve pressure. (I can still feel the dents in my head, although now covered with bone.) Miraculously, I survived. I spent six weeks in the hospital gaining strength and learning to walk again. Doctors told my mom and dad I’d never be normal.
But, my mother was determined I would be absolutely normal. Although I have few memories of that time, as I grew, I recall we did flash cards every day without fail. She pumped me full of good garden-grown food. One vivid and recurring memory is being absolutely terrified to go back for regular checkups with the doctor, so my mom would bake banana bread with me and have me walk proudly into the office to deliver the bread to the doctor.
My illness fostered a strong faith within my parents. They begged God for my life and in return they grew a strong faith in me.
Every day of my life was viewed through an aura of….
Without faith, you might not have had an extra day beyond two and a half years.
God spared your life.
Therefore, for every day you live beyond that you must:
-be thankful to God,
- pay back
- and do good for others.
My parents’ dual diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and simultaneous decline rates right up there as my second life-changing experience. Because my parents saved my life and loved and cared for me, it became critical for me to make the best decisions for them through their disease process. I’m so thankful I found the comfort of AlzAuthors and the sisterhood and brotherhood we share on this journey along with other care partners.
At AlzAuthors we feature books written from all faiths worldwide, as well as no faith at all. All well-written personal experiences with Alzheimer’s and dementia are honored, lifted, and elevated for the good of caregivers, through our platform.
With that said, I’d like to share a faith-based, inspirational book that touched my heart recently. I’m honored to introduce you to Cheryl Crofoot Knapp and her memoir of taking care of both parents, Undefeated Innocence.
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Our Most Recent Author
Cheryl Crofoot Knapp shares her personal experience
with Alzheimer's disease in
Cheryl writes:
I barely understood Alzheimer’s the first time it staged assault on our family. It was an unwanted guest stealing my dad. My mom tried to handle everything on her own. She hid a psychiatric evaluation that revealed my dad failed the clock test, had a functional IQ of under 90, and needed immediate full-time care. Mom thought she could fix him. She couldn’t help my dad, her depression returned, and I made the difficult decision to place him immediately in a care facility.
...Two years later, the unwanted guest made a repeat performance with my mom in the lead role. She was still mobile and enjoyed being sociable, but she needed to move to a residential community that could provide care as the disease progressed. She loved to play cards (until she couldn’t remember how to play the games) and chat with her new girlfriends. A year later, my husband and I moved 800 miles from Minnesota to Arkansas to help her and become her legal guardians.
I recently posted this meme to social media with this wording: "Visiting an elderly loved one may be uncomfortable, but it brings them so much momentary joy. Do what is hard. Visit anyway."
