Читать книгу ALZHEIMER'S: Don's Faithful Journey - Kyle Talbott - Страница 2

Every now and then, you meet an amazing person who changes your perspective on life for the better. When this person is married to an equally awesome person, you feel as if you have won the lottery. Don and I met in 2007, during our quest to complete our Bachelor of Business Administration degrees at Averett University. We met outside of the classroom once a week to complete assignments, and through those various meetings (over a period of four years) I quickly developed a close friendship with Don and his wife, Christy.

A year into the program, Don shared his Alzheimer’s diagnosis with me. I was SHOCKED! He was so young and so smart. Through statistics and accounting classes, Don excelled with numbers and helped me pass the classes. He quickly calculated problems in his head, which earned him the role of the “bean counter” in a skit we performed for the class. If the disease was changing him, I could not see any signs of the changes. By the end of our four-year quest, I could see small changes in Don. The papers that were once easy for Don to write and organize were now constant sources of stress and aggravation. Luckily, Don made it through successfully. Our graduation was one of the happiest days of our lives! We DID it! We overcame the hurdles we faced, and achieved a dream of ours. We both were determined to balance our careers and families, while reaching towards our goal for a four-year degree. We needed to prove we could do it ourselves, but we also aspired to set the bar higher for our children. I can remember Don fighting back the tears because his parents did not live long enough to see him graduate. That was the first time I saw the raw and emotional side of the cruel Alzheimer’s disease. It is hard to watch the disease take a toll on the individual you care about and love.

After graduation, our friendship continued. We enjoyed baseball games, hockey games, trips, and many dinners and lunches together. Over the years, Christy continued to keep me abreast on the changes with Don. However, when we met for lunch or dinner, I was unable to see the changes she described. For my 40th birthday, we took a trip to Atlantic City, and the changes hit me in the face like a jagged brick. My heart ached for Don and Christy because I knew the changes meant progression of the disease. Little did I know how well they would adapt to the changes and challenges of Don’s Alzheimer’s journey.

Don informed me many times that he knows this disease will take him from this earth one day. He reiterates over and over his desire to help find a cure for those diagnosed in the future. I am so proud of Don and Christy for humbling themselves to tell their story! With admiration, I watch Christy help Don tackle new obstacles that arise. They are easily the epitome of selfless love, always thinking of others amidst their own storms.

Through my friendship with Don and Christy, I am privy to many life lessons. First and foremost, keep your faith strong and your smile big. Their faith in God is always on the forefront, and they share their love with their families, friends, church members, and community. The journey is rough on both of them, but each time we meet they both are smiling. I know you will enjoy Don’s stories in this book, and his talent will radiate through his poems. Enjoy the read! ~ Heather