The Walk to End Alzheimer's is this Saturday. If you are in Nashville and can join me, please do. The letter below tells why I am walking to end Alzheimer's and how Alzheimer's has touched my life. For those who have prayed for me and Louella and offered words of encouragement, thank you. For those who have contributed to the cause, I appreciate it. If you have not contributed and would like to do so, I would be greatly appreciative. If you can't afford much, any amount would be appreciated. You can contribute by following this link. I know the worse part of this journey is ahead and I know finding a cure is too late to help my sweet Louella, but finding a cure will help others escape this terrible disease. Please continue to lift us up in prayer. Thank you, Rod
Will you please join me in the battle to combat Alzheimer’s?
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Louella in her cast |
On October 11th, I will be taking part in the Nashville Walk to End Alzheimer's. Louella is currently in rehab, but if she is out, I hope she can walk with me. Would you please sponsor us in this walk? A contribution of any amount will be appreciated. Can you contribute $5 or $10? If you will click on this link, it will take you to my donation page. (Once on that page, just click on "$ Donate to my team" and then it takes you to another page where you can submit your credit card information. This is a secure site administered by the Alzheimer Association. After submitting your donation you will receive a confirmation message.
If you are more comfortable writing a check, make the check out to “Alzheimer’s Association” and mail it to me and I will turn it in. My address is Rod Williams, 758 Roycroft Pl. Nashville, TN. 37203.
If you are here in Nashville and can join me for the walk, I would be honored. We will be walking a two mile walk starting at the Public Square Park, which is the park in front of the Courthouse. Registration is at 8:00 am, Ceremony at 9:00 am, and the Walk is at 9:30 am. They have coffee and pastry that morning or they have in the past and I assume they will. To join the "Rod and Louella Team" in the walk to end Alzheimer click on this link and then click “join my team.” If you fail to register for the walk and want to join us at the last minute, just show up and look for me.
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging and just getting senile. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages and eventually destroys brain cells, leading to loss of memory, thinking and other brain functions. Alzheimer's usually develops slowly and gradually gets worse as more brain cells wither and die. Ultimately, Alzheimer's is fatal, and currently, there is no cure. Unless a cure is found, you or someone you love may develop this disease. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. It is the 6th leading cause of death. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.
If you are a reader of this blog and live here in Nashville, some of you probably know Louella from
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Louella and Sue, taken last year in New Orleans |
In June, I put Louella in Parthenon Pavilion, a mental hospital. The reason, I put her in there is that she was not sleeping. Some nights she would sleep maybe two or three hours and sometimes maybe a couple hours but in 15 or 30 minute increments. She had slept all night long only a couple night in the prior two weeks. Her not sleeping was taking a toll on me. Being on medication and exhausted from not sleeping, she would stumble and fall. I was afraid she would hurt herself so I put her in the hospital. Then things got worse. She was in there a month and while there, supposed to be under one-on-one supervision, she fell and broke her ankle. It was a bad break, broke in five places. She then went to the hospital and had to have two operations. While in the hospital she developed Pneumonia. She spend two periods in the intensive care unit and I was afraid she was going to die.
After about a month in the hospital, she was moved to a rehab facility called Good Samaritan. She was free of pneumonia before leaving the hospital and Louella is stronger than she was. She had lost a lot of weight, but is now back up to almost her normal weight and she has a good appetite. Her ankle is healing and she goes to the doctor in a couple weeks and if all goes well the cast will be removed.
I have been so disappointed in the whole process of being involved in the health care system. At all
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April 2007 at the Inauguration Ball for Bill Haslam |
There is a risk that Louella may not be able to walk when the cast comes off. Some people with Alzheimer forget how to walk and cannot relearn after something like this. Also, her sleeping is still not regulated. I still plan to bring her home, but am not sure how I will manage. We still have Sue working for us. She has been with us for almost four years now. She is so sweet to Louella and really loves her. I don't know what I would do without Sue.
It is sad to watch Louella fade away and difficult to face the inevitable. Louella and I have had a
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We were married in a ceremony at our home Dec. 4th, 2005 |
It is too late to find a cure for Alzheimer’s that will help Louella, but a cure will save others from this terrible disease. Please join me in the fight against Alzheimer’s by sponsoring my walk. Just follow this link and follow the instructions. Please keep us in your prayers and thank you.
Rod Williams
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I want you to know that I very much admire the obvious love and care you have for your wife, Louella. I want you to know that I have written it down so that I will not forget to pray for the both of you in a regular way. May God grant you even more wisdom and love in the days to come.
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