By Todd Larson (Pictured above on the left) 1980 was a very memorable year for me. That year, I finally mustered the courage to ask out a work friend who would become my future wife, Sandy. I asked Sandy out in a way that she would talk about for years to come. It was just after my birthday. When Sandy asked me about my birthday, … Continue reading My Advocacy Story: Todd Larson
By Seema Abassi, MD (speaking in photo above) My father was a retired air force officer. He was in excellent health until one day, when he was 80 years old, he suffered a heart attack and needed an emergency bypass surgery. The surgery was a success, but after his discharge from the hospital, we noticed significant memory changes and thence began his seven-year journey with … Continue reading My Advocacy Story: Seema Abbasi, MD
Above: Dee Anne and her mother, Rose Dee Anne De Angelo is an Air Force veteran raising two teenagers in Wenatchee, WA. In addition to raising her kids, Dee Anne is the founder of a group that supports women veterans, and was the sole caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease who recently passed away. This is her Alzheimer’s advocacy story. Dee Anne’s father was … Continue reading My Advocacy Story: Dee Anne De Angelo
Lynne Russell was 51 and raising her three sons, one 14-year-old and two 19-year-olds, when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her grandma, Helen, passed away from that disease the same year. Lynne has since retired from her teaching career and lives close to her sons in Seattle in an assisted living community. Lynne and her parents, Jim and Karen, are captains for the Lynne & … Continue reading For Lynne and Grammy Helen: Why I Walk
By Cheri Whitlock On January 9, 1988, my husband Jim and I spoke traditional vows of better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health, till death do us part. In our 30 years, we have shared all the normal ups and downs of married life. We moved across the country and bought a home, we had a miscarriage and dealt with infertility, we shared … Continue reading For Better or for Worse: My Advocacy Story
Patricia Kienholz is a very busy woman. She is a single mother of two, an avid learner, working about 70-90 hours a week between her work in the nonprofit sector and helping to run a family-owned business. “I can’t stand idle time, and my brain only slows down when I’m sleeping,” she said. Still, Patricia takes the time to be an Alzheimer’s advocate. “I see advocacy … Continue reading Justice for families: My advocacy story
By Ramona Pitre-Collins My mother’s life My mother, Marie Elizabeth Blouin Pitre was born June 28, 1924 at her Market Street house in Opelousas, a small town in southern Louisiana. She was the seventh of nine children. Aunts and uncles talked about what a rambunctious household they were, full of good-natured conflicts, laughter, music and chatter that was often louder than the homes around them. … Continue reading Remembering a beautiful life: My advocacy story
By Pramila Jayapal, Congresswoman for Washington District 7 In the summer of last year, I was approached by a constituent with a story that I’ve heard all too often. Mikaela Louie was born and raised in Seattle and was working abroad after completing her undergraduate program when tragedy struck. Mikaela received a call from home: her mother, only 57 years old, was diagnosed with early … Continue reading Fighting Alzheimer’s: Supporting families and funding research
As the community relations director for an assisted living community, Jennifer Angell’s job is to create unique and enjoyable experiences for the residents living there. She often combines these activities with something purposeful, like raising money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. For the last few years, Jennifer has been the Team Captain for the Spiritwood Unforgettables. They usually attend the Eastside Walk to End … Continue reading Unforgettable Moments- Why I Walk
Each fall, the Alzheimer’s Association, Washington State Chapter hosts a series of Town Halls across Washington State and northern Idaho. These community events are a unique opportunity for constituents to hear from and ask questions of local leaders about public policy related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Here are few of topics being covered at our Town Halls this year: Increases to Research Funding The … Continue reading Public Policy Town Halls 2018
