Samuel Valverde is a U.S. Military veteran and a retired police officer who was recognized with younger-onset Alzheimer’s illness in 2022. He now serves on the Alzheimer’s Affiliation Early-Stage Advisory Group, which brings the voices of people residing with dementia to the nationwide forefront. Samuel resides in New Braunfeld, Texas, together with his spouse and care accomplice, Heather.
Inform us about your expertise within the U.S. Military. Why did you pursue a profession within the army?
So long as I can keep in mind, rising up I dreamed of being a soldier and a police officer. I enlisted within the Military throughout my senior yr of highschool in 1988. I used to be from a small city in Texas, and I used to be able to go — I used to be very bold, and I used to be prepared to maneuver on.
I used to be initially within the army for 4 years, and I reenlisted for 2 extra years. I used to be stationed in Germany, after which I used to be deployed with the 1-35 Armored Tank Battalion in Desert Defend/Desert Storm. After that, I used to be stationed in Texas.
Veterans Day is Nov. 11. Why is that this day vital to you?
Our veterans sacrifice lots. They served our nation, and we have to take time to acknowledge them within the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, within the eleventh month. It is vital to acknowledge their sacrifice.
What impression did your army service have on you?
The battle did one thing to me. I knew one thing was not proper, however I simply did not need that stigma. However my dad and mom noticed it, so I went to the VA they usually seen there was one thing incorrect. They stated I had concussions or head accidents on the assessments, however there was by no means any follow-up.
If you come again from battle and you’ve got all of your limbs, you assume you are tremendous. It took me a very long time to grasp that is not the case, however I did not need to take up area from the individuals who I noticed on the VA who had accidents. So it took me years to get a prognosis of PTSD and despair.
You have been recognized with younger-onset Alzheimer’s in 2022. What have been among the first signs you seen?
I am usually a high-functioning particular person, and I seen that I used to be making errors that have been uncommon. I might miss appointments, I might miss courtroom dates. I might miss particulars in experiences. My spouse additionally seen, and thankfully she obtained me into the VA once more, the place I used to be hospitalized. I met with a psychologist who seen that it was not simply PTSD, it was one thing else. She seen that my speech was not the place it was speculated to be, that I used to be struggling to provide you with phrases.
We met with a neurologist, and I obtained a PET scan. We have been taking part in cellphone tag with the physician, so we seemed up my medical data on-line by means of the VA. We noticed that the PET scan outcomes have been irregular and indicative of younger-onset Alzheimer’s. We have been in shock — we did not suppose that was us. It took us months to lastly get solutions from a neurologist, and she or he defined every thing.
What was your and Heather’s response to the prognosis?
I’ve a robust relationship with Jesus Christ, and I do know that every one of our days are numbered. So I may need been devastated, however I used to be extra involved for my spouse as a result of she took it actually exhausting. Heather was devastated. She was curious to know, “The place can we go from right here? What part of the illness is he in?” So my neurologist forwarded us to the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. We reached out to the Affiliation, and issues modified a lot for us. They provide so many sources. The Affiliation is unimaginable.
How has the Alzheimer’s Affiliation supported you?
I used to be just a little bit hesitant at first as a result of I am not good with group remedy and issues like that. However I obtained concerned with the Affiliation, and I’ve a help group that’s exceptional. It is motivating as a result of the individuals within the help group consider issues larger than themselves — this illness doesn’t outline you.
I used to be a police officer for 14 years and within the army. I am a service-oriented particular person. So once I was recognized with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, I wished to coach myself as a lot as attainable and battle it. That is what the Affiliation does. It propelled me due to the individuals concerned who’re out spreading consciousness.
What do you hope to perform as a member of the Affiliation’s Early-Stage Advisory Group?
I need to do my half in contributing to consciousness of the illness and of analysis. I’ve younger-onset Alzheimer’s, that means you are youthful than age 65. I feel individuals could have a look at me and suppose I am a wholesome trying particular person, however they do not see the signs.
I have been to 2 Stroll to Finish Alzheimer’s occasions, and I stay up for going to AAIC Developments: Exploring Fairness in Analysis, a analysis convention in Chicago. I’ve plenty of hope as a result of there are people who find themselves doing analysis, they usually’re doing every thing they’ll. I am trying ahead to the day that there isn’t any dementia, and I am actually inspired by what I see.
Produce other veterans supported you thru your Alzheimer’s journey?
Sure, I used to be going by means of a program for PTSD, and plenty of the individuals concerned are veterans. You possibly can apply the rules they educate to plenty of completely different points. I used to be recognized midway by means of this system. I used to be devastated, however I could not have been in a greater place as a result of I used to be coping with trauma. I’ve met fantastic individuals and veterans by means of this system.
November is Nationwide Household Caregivers Month. What message would you wish to share with Heather and different caregivers?
Hats off to care companions as a result of they’re the unsung heroes. I am unable to do my medicine, my spouse has to do it. She has to make all of the appointments. She has to do all that stuff after which some. Alzheimer’s is one thing no one requested for. It simply falls in your lap, and there is not any proper or incorrect approach to deal with it. It is a battle as a result of your important different is seeing you decline, and you may’t do what you might usually do.
My coronary heart goes out to all the caregivers. They’re simply golden. We have to do as a lot as we are able to to acknowledge them and worth them.
What recommendation would you give to somebody who has been recognized with Alzheimer’s illness?
I might encourage individuals to stay your life. Educate your self, discover out as a lot as you may. This illness motivates me to discover a treatment, unfold consciousness and additional analysis.
