Stepping Away and Stepping Back: My Hiatus from Alzheimer’s Advocacy

It’s been two years since I last took an active role in Alzheimer’s advocacy. Life has a funny way of testing us, and it certainly did so with a series of events that took place in quick succession. Kim and I sold our large family home and moved to a 55+ community that required a lot of renovations.  My older brother passed suddenly in the night on Thanksgiving and my mother moved back in with Kim and me. It was a lot for all of us to handle, and Kim was already working two full-time jobs. So, I decided to retire from my advocacy work, largely because I thought this would help lighten the load for Kim.

But as I’ve learned over these past two years, retirement doesn’t necessarily mean a complete end to one’s involvement in something that is important to them. Despite the fact that Alzheimer’s was still growing within me. The hope is that the Aducanumab clinical trial I am involved in would slow the progression of the loss of my cognition and other critical brain functions.

It’s been a time of reflection for me. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings that I wanted to share with others who are either going through a similar journey or may be inspired to take a stand against Alzheimer’s. I know I can still serve, even if it’s from a different place.

In conclusion, I hope that this personal blog post can serve as a source of inspiration for one more person. I want to show that stepping away from something doesn’t mean it’s the end, and that it’s possible to step back into something that is important to us. Alzheimer’s advocacy will always be a part of me, and I look forward to continuing my journey and making a difference.