Patricia B. Smith - Alzheimers For Dummies

by Patricia B. Smith, Mary Kenan, PsyD, and Mark Edwin Kunik, MD, MPH

Alzheimer's For Dummies

Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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Copyright 2004 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2003113602

ISBN: 978-0-764-53899-5

1B/RV/RQ/QT/IN

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6

Unless youre a medical student or a doctor, you never expect to become a disease expert, but the minute your family gets a diagnosis, you scramble to get your hands on any and all the information you can find. If youre reading this, you have probably already reached critical mass in your search to become a healthcare advocate for yourself or someone you love. Youre in luck. Alzheimers For Dummies will become your constant companion as you battle this illness.

I have always loved the For Dummies books. My own office boasts copies of Philosophy For Dummies, Internet For Dummies, and a couple of other titles that somehow make me feel a little, well, less like a dummy. I never dreamed I would have to add the Alzheimers book to my collection.

At the young age of 63, my mother our rock, our steel magnolia was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimers Disease. Our family felt alone, frustrated and frightened. To make the ache in our hearts even greater, this news closely followed my mothers painful struggle with her own mothers battle with the same disease. We lost my Granny. I lose a little more of Mom every day. I want so badly to promise my daughter that she will never have to lose me in the same way.

Until I can promise my children that they dont have to worry about me, I fight. I learn. I seek information and I look for ways to help. Recently, I created the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and I am proud to announce the opening of Leezas Places. Leezas Place has been designed to give families, who are struggling with this thief, a safe place for education, energy and empowerment. Our goal is to assist with the day-to-day challenges of coping with this disease and to support both those who have been diagnosed and their caregivers.

Education is one of our primary objectives. There is no upside to keeping your head in the sand. This book is a crucial step in your new fight. Arm yourself with the knowledge waiting for you in these pages. It will help you find answers and resources as you adjust to your new reality.

I promised my mother that I would make her story count and use it to help others. She is in the final stages of the disease now, but she would be so proud to be associated with this series. Id have given anything to have a book like this when we got our diagnosis. I wish you strength, courage and clarity as you read it and hope that you are able to use what you learn to assist you in your fight.

Blessings,

Leeza Gibbons