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S- The CanaIan Champion, TueaaY, January M200 487 LauriorA'. 878-2881 b#OC-dfor w« 30 yffl * g Ali Facing Aheimer's a trying experience By IRENE GENTLE The Champion The fatal disease that corrodes both the mind and body of the afflicted crept quietly into Gai! Czerwjnskj's fle. Growing up, ber father George was strong and funny. An ex- military man, be conquered the insurance field with the same vigour be once tackled the Second World War. And ber mother, Betty, was the quintessential 1950s mom. She baked, sewed and knitted lfor ber quintessential 1950s household, complete witb mom, pop and two childoen, Gail and ber sister, Lynn. But thQse memories came under siege four years ago when Alzbeimer's disease and dementia laid dlaim on not one, but botb of Ms Czerwinski's parents. 'It was devastaîîng," tbe Milton resîdent recalled. Looking back, Ms Czerwinski can't say bow long tbe couple were struggling witb tbe dîsease tbat by last year bad claimed botb tbeir lives. But sbte credits tbe Victorian Order of Nurses -- wbicb is now especially busy wiîb Alzbcimer's Awareness Montb -;- for pulling ber tbrougb. "t called tbem Up. t briefly explained what was bappening," said Ms Czerwinski. 'Tbe next day 1 was in tbeir office pouning my beart out. 1 came bome that day witb ail kinds of literature. 1 began going to support groups." Early signa missed Early signs of trouble were Iikely missed, distance being tbe culprit. George and Betty made tbeîr bome in Montreal wbile Ms Czerwinaki resides bere, ber sister in Kitcbener. Both were occupied witb tbe bappy encumbrances of growing familles and careers. So it juat made sense tbat most of tbe visita were made by tbeir parents. 'But we starte<J to notice tbeir tipa were becoming leas and les frequent" said Ms Czerwinskj. And wben tbe siblinga took it upon tbemselves to investigate, it was obvious sometbing was wrong.. 'Tbe bouse badn't been kept up. Somte of tbe food in tbe fridge was moldy," sbe said. "Laundry waan't being done. T'hey weren't wearing clean clothes. We were hoth sbocked." Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Gall Czerwlnskl faced the trauma of Alzhelm.r's dis- oaa. when both of her parents auccumbed to demrentla four year a go. Neither parent was eaîing well. George, a lifelong amoker, had taken to spadding up bis lighter and bringing it to bis lips witbout a cigarette. So arrangements weoe made to bring tbe couple to a senior's residence in Kitchener. llsey were befuddled, but accommodating. "As far as my parents were concemed, tbey were botb fine," said Ma Czerwinski. - But tbey weren't. A tborougb assessment revealed tbat Betty was suffering frora Alzbeimer's. Gaping boles ripped tbrougb ber sbort term, and then long term, memory. Her body, already frail wiîb beart trouble and osteoporosis, was in tbe process of falling spart. At tbe same time, George bad succumbed to vascular dementia. His memory was lsrgely unscatbed but tbe ability to master tasks sucb as dressing eluded bim. And be bad taken to ballucinating, watcbing out tbe window of bis nursing bome and commenting on tbe infanîty below. Spatial recognition was also affecîrd. An attempt to sit on a chair would more often tbat noS end up witb George missing il completely. As time passed, recognition ebbed witb tbe couple's physical strengtb. In Betty's case, "sbe didn't know we were ber daugbîers," said Ms Czerwinski. "Sbe'd sometimes refer to, me as'ber sister or ber motber or ber aunt." Effecis devastating A 5Otb wedding anniversary party beld two'years ago resulted in a pboto of tbe couple, aIl decked out and beaming gamely, he mugged and bandsome, abe egg-sbell fragile, etbereally beautiful. But tbe pboto took more tban an bour to snap, and .neither bad any ides wbat tbe celebration was about, said Ms Czerwinski. Wben George died two years ago at the age of 78, Betty attend- ed tbe funeral in a tae of good-natured bewilderment. "My sister and 1 were quite distraugbt but we bad to keep explaining it to ber," said Ms Czerwinski. "We kept telling ber over and over again, but flnally we juat gave up."1 For the sutTerers, tbat may be the mercy of the disease. Despite 50 years spent in matrimonial lock-step witb George, tbe st yesr of Betty's life was not spent ravaged witb grief. 11t juat becamne a non-issue. Sbe neyer once asked for bim," said Ms Czerwinski. "It was just - gone Instead, Ie tearing grief was reserved for tbe cbildren. To jop, Ms Czerwintski took a leave of absence, tben anoduer, from ber teacbing job. Now abe volunteers ber time ai Allendale, and thinks about being strong enougb to resume ber career. And abe still attends tbe VON's Alzheimer Support Croup. "It bas been s0 belpful," sbe said. "It allows you to abare your concema. And it provides an excellent forum f'or problem-solv- ing. You can get feedback from otber people." r- v fl u www.cog.co.ca Aeton 21 Mais StreeS North. Adtos. ON L7J lV9 519-853-1270, or 853-4700 FCOGECO 14 >rogrammlnng- Schedule - January 25th, 2000 - January 31sf, 2000 76tOn ffli emÉ la 17th tu D uii, traduer awap Ialk is your TV Garage Sale! - Wed. 7pm. J laPu 57m p iist LW ~ i R~ 7a 1i au 5:30p nca Mqed 10Stn, Stan,ND Nia PiWedhi %s1ocSes 533,730p M4 Plh! :OOpm SpodsZONELàe OM