By Mark Donham The following is an excerpt from Mark Donham’s chapter in The Moment Collectors: Twenty Travellers’ Tales From Around the World. It has been adapted for the purposes of the ALZWA Blog. Mark is a long-time Alzheimer’s advocate and is currently a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter. I was riding and exploring the dusty gravel roads of six countries … Continue reading The True Value of Travel
By Brady Jensen My mom’s 10-year decline with Alzheimer’s disease began when she was 55 and ended last year. I miss her more than anything and have for the last few years. On Valentine’s day last year, I was snowed in and started writing down my thoughts. My mom used to make my brothers and me foot-by-foot pink heart-shaped sugar cookies topped with a cursive-frosting … Continue reading My First Valentine: There’s No Love Like a Mother’s Love
By: Amanda Johanson Hi, my name is Amanda Johanson. My father, Mark, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s two-and-a-half years ago at the age of 61. Alzheimer’s runs in my family on my dad’s side. Both my grandma and great aunt passed away from Alzheimer’s — although they didn’t receive their diagnosis until much later in life. My dad graduated from Purdue University with an engineering … Continue reading Finding Support: Facing My Dad’s Diagnosis
Seattle locals Mark Tarbutton and Alan Allison are no strangers to the difficulties caregivers face when supporting a loved one with dementia. For the last seven years, Mark has watched his mother care for his father who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Likewise, Alan witnessed his uncle struggle as a caregiver for his aunt when she was living with dementia. In 2021, the pair founded … Continue reading Shared experience inspires tech duo to develop app for caregivers
With public awareness of brain aging and Alzheimer disease risk growing, it’s understandable for adults to wonder whether moments of forgetfulness could be signs of something more serious, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Continue reading What is MCI?
The Washington State Chapter has two staff members devoted to this important part of our mission. Together, they plan and manage grassroots advocacy efforts, including organizing a network of Alzheimer’s advocates, to advance issues critical to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, their families, and their caregivers. Continue reading Meet the Public Policy Team
By John Morris My name is John Morris Jr., and I am 62 years old. I lost Linda, my wife of 29 years, to dementia. She was a strong woman. This is why I participate in the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s with Team Linda’s Angels. I noticed some changes in Linda around 2002. She had recently lost her mother, so I thought, “Well, … Continue reading Team Linda’s Angels: Why I Walk
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is right around the corner. While things might look a little different this year, we are moving forward to end Alzheimer’s and our Walk team is making that happen! We interviewed the Walk Managers so that you can get to know a little more about them and why they work so hard to make the Walk to End Alzheimer’s a … Continue reading Meet Our Team: Walk to End Alzheimer’s
By Janet Tarbutton My name is Janet Tarbutton. I live in Liberty Lake, WA with my husband, Alan. We were high school sweethearts in Orange, CA. We went to rival town high schools and met at church. We are celebrating 42 years of marriage in July 2020. We love to travel, play golf and be outdoors as much as possible. We have so many wonderful … Continue reading A role reversal in our marriage: Becoming a caregiver
Janet Callahan lives in Edmonds, Wash. with her husband and son, “The Nicks,” (also known as Nick and son Nicholas) and their two chubby cats. In January 2020, Janet joined the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter as The Longest Day Coordinator. Janet came to the Alzheimer’s Association through “total serendipity.” While attending a Journey Dementia Family Caregiver Conference in November with her father, she happened … Continue reading Janet Callahan: The Longest Day Coordinator
