The theif called Alzheimers’s disease

Went with a friend to visit her mom last night.  Joanne is in a nursing home, on the dementia floor.  Joanne has Alzheimer’s disease.  It is so sad to see her like this.   She was always such a strong, proud woman.  And to see her like this is heartbreaking.   The first time I met Joanne, it was about 20 years ago.  She had a great sense of humor and loved to bet on professional football games.  Now, she is reduced to a shell of her former self.   They were eating dinner when we arrived.  She attempted to introduce us to her table mate, 6-7 times.  She had to be spoon fed.  Then we took her back to her room.  My friend tried to brush her mother’s teeth.  Joanne put up a fight.   We told her that Holly was going to school to be a dentist (complete lie) and she needed practice.  Joanne complied.  Then we walked her back to the dining room.  Joanne spied her table mate, said good bye to us, and took off.  I guess she was done with us.  Today, she recognized us.  Tomorrow, who knows.  A few months ago, I met Holly and Joanne at a local restaurant.   Joanne saw me and said , you’re my friend.  I said yes I am, she then proceeded to introduce me to Holly, her daughter, my best friend for the past 20 years.  It is so sad to see how Alzheimer’s disease robs people.  Robs people of their memories.  Robs people of their loved ones.