April 29th / May 1st, 2011
"Fishing for Memories Helps Kids Tackle Alzheimer's"
It is estimated that over 5 million people in the United States are living
with Alzheimer's, and that number is expected to climb to 16 million by
the year 2050 if something isn't done to reverse the trend. Fortunately,
something IS being done. Last week (and for the first time in 27 years), the
National Institutes of Health revised its guidelines for diagnosing
Alzheimer's disease. Recognizing that Alzheimer's is the result of a "gradual
destruction" of brain cells which control memory, NIH in conjunction with the
Alzheimer's Association, now recommends that doctors diagnose the risk of the
disease long before their patients develop full blown dementia. According
to the Washington Post, this change in strategy could help identify more
people in early stages of Alzheimer's, who might then volunteer for drug
studies which could delay the disease.
At the very least, however, earlier diagnosis can help families prepare
financially and emotionally for dealing with the eventuality that faces them.
The cost of care for an Alzheimer's patient is staggering, not including
approximately $200 billion dollars of unpaid care by family members. But
perhaps the emotional cost to families is much greater, and no one suffers
more than small children living in a household where Alzheimer's has stolen
the memory of an adult loved one. Toward that end, author Carolyn Peterson of
Lewisville has written a book that can help young children understand and
deal with the dreaded disease.
A few years ago, Carolyn's uncle was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She then
began to observe the interaction between her Uncle and his granddaughters,
whom he no longer recognized. Still the girls continued to talk with their
grandfather the same as always, and, in their own way, were able to keep
their special relationship intact, and his memories alive. After having
observed these touching exchanges at her Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party,
Carolyn was inspired to write about what she had seen. "I woke up at three
in the morning, and the idea for a children's book about Alzheimer's came
to me with great clarity", said the author. "A myriad of books had been
written about the disease, but usually from an adult perspective. I wanted to
write about Alzheimer's from a child's point of view".
And though her vision for the book came quickly, Carolyn found the actual
process to be fraught with great emotion, causing her to set it aside from
time to time in order to gain a better perspective of the interactions she
had witnessed at family gatherings. She decided to take artistic license
with the story, and make her nieces a composite character named Jack, and her
Uncle a kindly old grandfather who used to spend many an hour fishing with
his grandson. Jack was determined not to let Alzheimer's destroy his
grandfather's memory of those wonderful times they had shared, so he
communicates with the old man by showing him photos of their fishing trips.
"Fishing for Memories" now offers hope and instruction to countless
families who are dealing with Alzheimer's. TV personality Leeza Gibbons, whose
Mother had the disease, said of Carolyn's book, "When children don't
understand what's going on, they can internalize the problem. 'Fishing for
Memories' gently provides a way for young minds to make sense of something so
confusing and sad".
Illustrated by local artist Deborah Wentworth, "Fishing for Memories" is a
delightful and touching story that should grace the shelves of every
elementary school library in America, and be required reading for every family
affected by Alzheimer's. The NIH says that early diagnosis of Alzheimer's is
crucial. So is early understanding, and, thanks to Carolyn Peterson, a lot
of young people will now be better equipped to offer special care to loved
ones affected by the disease.
Fishing for Memories is available through
carolynspeterson.com. The author will speak at a book signing
this Saturday (April 30) at Shakespeare & Company at 2pm in downtown
Kernersville.
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