Edward Jones associates and their households proceed to make a distinction within the struggle to finish Alzheimer’s in honor of the folks they love, their purchasers, and in assist of all these dealing with Alzheimer’s and different dementia. Meet a number of the passionate folks devoted to the struggle to finish Alzheimer’s.
Lang Alexander
Department Workplace Administrator, Florida
In 2021, I participated in my first Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s® as a part of Edward Jones’ Nationwide Group. I by no means imagined that one 12 months later, I would be strolling in honor of my sister, Loni. In March 2022, Loni was identified with dementia.
Loni was a senior accountant at IBM and Workplace Depot — vivid, unbiased and pleased with her accomplishments. She retired at 63 and was identified three years later. She moved in with me, and I turned her caregiver.
During the last two years, I’ve watched her decline. The joyful, wholesome and unbiased individual I knew not acknowledges me or her household. Alzheimer’s has stolen the life she labored so arduous to construct.
On Aug. 7, 2023, at 2 a.m., overwhelmed and not sure of the place to show, I made my first name to the Alzheimer’s Affiliation 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900). The kindness and understanding from the specialist who answered helped me in my journey as Loni’s caregiver. I will always remember that second.
Experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness is has deepened my dedication to assist the work of the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. Their sources are invaluable to households like mine. I am extremely proud to work for a corporation like Edward Jones, which stands beside us on this struggle.
Ed DeVault
Principal, Missouri
We weren’t the primary to note the refined adjustments in my mother-in-law, Sweet. In 2013, a household pal who hadn’t seen her for a couple of years referred to as us after engaged on a challenge along with her, saying, “You want to have Sweet evaluated; one thing simply isn’t fairly proper.” That decision led to exams, docs’ visits, screenings and, in the end, a analysis in her mid-50s that will change her life — and ours — perpetually.
Our household started collaborating within the Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s that very same 12 months. It meant a lot to Sweet to have us all supporting her. Quickly after, Edward Jones started their sponsorship with the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. It meant a lot to our household to have Edward Jones linked to one thing that had impacted our household so dearly.
Sweet’s battle with Alzheimer’s lasted 7.5 years. Some years have been nice, whereas others have been extremely powerful. As we speak, we proceed to stroll in her honor. She’d be so proud to see the influence her story has made!
Justin Cook dinner
Monetary Advisor, Georgia
Rising up, household was all the pieces. Each Sunday, we had lunch at my grandparents’ home. Throughout the week, they typically watched us whereas my dad and mom labored. These gatherings created many fantastic reminiscences, particularly with Papa Cook dinner.
I bear in mind mendacity within the hammock and throwing frisbees with him within the yard. As a retired principal, he cherished being together with his grandchildren. He had a mild spirit that all the time introduced calm to any scenario. Although he is not with us, he continues to encourage me to be sort and delicate with my very own children whereas remembering to have enjoyable.
After I was round 11, I began noticing Papa Cook dinner getting offended over small issues that usually would not trouble him. Shortly after, my dad and mom spoke to Mama Cook dinner, and she or he revealed that he had been identified with Alzheimer’s greater than a 12 months earlier than. We have been shocked and saddened. I did not totally perceive what it meant, however I knew it was critical.
Trying again, I notice Mama Cook dinner could have been embarrassed or ashamed — she did not speak concerning the illness and took on most of his care herself. As a nurse, she possible felt prefer it was her accountability.
I prayed the interventions being examined within the medical research he participated in at Vanderbilt would result in a remedy as a result of I could not think about him not being at my baseball video games. His therapies continued for a couple of years, however ultimately, he not acknowledged me. He needed to transfer to an assisted residing facility, because it turned an excessive amount of for my grandmother to look after him at residence. Watching him within the ultimate phases was heartbreaking. When he handed, I totally grasped the devastation of Alzheimer’s, because it takes away an individual’s thoughts in a approach that feels worse than any bodily sickness.
Considered one of my favourite reminiscences is watching my grandparents dance collectively at our Christmas events. I felt honored to bop in his reminiscence on the 2024 Dancing Stars of Atlanta, the place I raised practically $65,000 for the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. That have motivated me to grow to be a stronger advocate for Alzheimer’s consciousness and be a part of the occasion committee for the 2025 Dancing Stars of Atlanta.
Alzheimer’s is usually missed as a result of it is so arduous to confront, however supporting the work of the Alzheimer’s Affiliation offers me the possibility to boost consciousness and rally assist. I do know Papa Cook dinner would smile down, seeing me dance to boost consciousness for Alzheimer’s.
Janet McConnaughey
Department Workplace Administrator, Wyoming
I take part in Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s to honor my mom, Joann McConnaughey. My mother lived with the illness for greater than 10 years; the final 5 years have been spent in a long-term care facility. She was admitted simply a few weeks earlier than the ability went into lockdown resulting from COVID.
After 14 months, we have been lastly allowed face-to-face visits — half-hour, as soon as every week. Throughout this time, I observed a big decline, not simply in her psychological capability however bodily as properly. Some days she’d be cheerful, smiling and all the time thanking me for taking good care of her. On different days, she would develop pissed off and yell, leaving me heartbroken as I walked out of the ability in tears. Nonetheless, I all the time believed that if I might make her smile, someplace deep down, she nonetheless knew who I used to be.
My mom handed away on November 16, 2023.
I stroll in hopes that sometime there shall be a remedy and that no different household has to cope with this illness.
Vickie Pricey
Retired Headquarters Affiliate, Missouri
I stroll for my mom.
She was vibrant, energetic, all the time smiling and all the time joyful. In our small neighborhood, she was a tough employee and an inspiration, all the time keen to assist anybody who wanted assist.
However all the pieces started to alter in her early 60s. She turned forgetful and disoriented. There have been occasions she’d drive into city and overlook who she was or find out how to get residence. It was unpredictable — some days she was her previous self, and different days, somebody utterly totally different.
We took her to each specialist that we thought might assist, and she or he underwent numerous exams — CT scans, MRIs, blood exams — hoping to search out solutions. After ruling out all the pieces else, the docs lastly gave us the heartbreaking analysis: Alzheimer’s illness.
She went from being this superb and vibrant individual, to somebody who could not gown herself or bear in mind who she was. She handed away in 2001. After her dying, we watched as all of her siblings started displaying the identical signs, slowly following the identical path of Alzheimer’s.
I stroll to assist discover a remedy. I stroll for my mom, her siblings and for all different households who share an identical expertise. I stroll as a result of I wish to see this illness eradicated throughout my lifetime. Collectively, we are able to discover a CURE!
Maureen Townsend
Department Workplace Administrator, Alaska
I’ve no household historical past of Alzheimer’s or dementia, however receiving such a devastating analysis has all the time been a really actual concern for me.
My life’s mission has all the time been about experiences — skydiving, leaping off cliffs in Thailand, driving camels in Egypt and floating in scorching air balloons over the castles of Spain. My reminiscences and tales are all the pieces to me.
Earlier than becoming a member of Edward Jones, I spent seven years as a surgical assistant. Throughout my medical coaching, I labored with dementia sufferers. These experiences forged a darkish shadow. The concern of someday getting Alzheimer’s haunted me.
That darkness started to elevate a few 12 months in the past at a regional assembly when the native Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s supervisor took the stage with a blaze of vitality and pleasure. She shared her connection to the illness, and her pleasure over developments in therapy. I used to be each shocked and excited once I heard concerning the progress being made and all of the sources the Alzheimer’s Affiliation provided.
At that second, I discovered myself head to head with my largest concern, however this time I had hope — hope for early therapy, hope for a remedy.
In September 2023, I participated in my city’s first Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s. I used to be overwhelmed by the sturdy present of assist from my purchasers and the neighborhood. Taking part within the Stroll not solely introduced us nearer to our purchasers, their households and the neighborhood but additionally gave me renewed hope for a future world with out Alzheimer’s and all different dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Affiliation Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest occasion to boost consciousness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, assist and analysis applications. Edward Jones continues its funding to boost Alzheimer’s Affiliation care and assist applications, present instructional supplies for Edward Jones purchasers and associates, and fund crucial Alzheimer’s analysis. Be taught extra.
