Ever wonder what it would be like to have a brain disease, but not even realize that something's wrong? I've always kind of wanted to know what that felt like without actually having it...
A few years ago my grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and up until recently, it's been pretty under control. I'd never really known the effects of it till I went up there today... My grandpa Bill went from this lively old Air Force vet to an unstable, crippled, old man in just a matter of a couple years. This came as quite a shock to me, mainly because the last time I'd really seen him, he was completely healthy. It's almost like time came full circle for him; or any person with Alzheimer's at that. Like he went from being a baby, to a grown man, then back to being a baby again. He's even got people changing his soiled underwear, too. It was definitely a disturbing sight, to say the least, but I guess that's how life has to go for people in his condition. I think the most disturbing part of it all was seeing my dad and grandma's reaction to it. They kept treating him like a baby; giving him little noise makers to play with and sticking their tongue out at him. I may be wrong, but I think that treating someone like less than they are for an extended period of time would eventually rub off on them and somehow change the way they think and act. Like a baby... I don't know... It's a very touchy subject that I don't know much about. I just hope that grandpa has a great conclusion to his incredibly long and eventful life. I know he deserves every bit of it. :)
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