We first met Lynn and Earl Towner at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in the spring of 2006, during one of Earl's visits there to participate in an investigational drug trial.
We saw them again at Christmas 2007, in their tiny northern Wisconsin community of Barnes. At that time, it had been five years since Earl’s Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Earl’s problems with memory and thinking hastened the end of his 20+ year career in chaplaincy and counseling in the Alaska Army National Guard. In one incident, at a formal military function, his superior officer was shocked to see that Earl had placed his chaplain’s pin on the wrong side of his uniform and his rank insignias were missing, unimaginable mistakes by military standards. Soon after, Earl retired, and he and Lynn moved to northern Wisconsin seeking a quieter, easier-to-manage life.
Earl currently participates in an experimental drug study which requires an infusion every 13 weeks. Lynn drives nearly 450 miles round trip to the Mayo clinic for these visits. Earl has decided that, at his death, his brain will be donated to Alzheimer’s research.
Earl’s problems with memory and thinking hastened the end of his 20+ year career in chaplaincy and counseling in the Alaska Army National Guard. In one incident, at a formal military function, his superior officer was shocked to see that Earl had placed his chaplain’s pin on the wrong side of his uniform and his rank insignias were missing, unimaginable mistakes by military standards. Soon after, Earl retired, and he and Lynn moved to northern Wisconsin seeking a quieter, easier-to-manage life.
Earl currently participates in an experimental drug study which requires an infusion every 13 weeks. Lynn drives nearly 450 miles round trip to the Mayo clinic for these visits. Earl has decided that, at his death, his brain will be donated to Alzheimer’s research.
We first met Judy and Don Deines at one of their visits to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in the Spring of 2006, where Don was involved in a research study. We saw them again in December 2007, at their home in Austin, MN.
Don’s memory troubles began in his mid-fifties. He was initially diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. His difficulties continued to worsen, however, and in 2003 he was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Problems with memory and thinking led to his early retirement due to disability from the Lutheran ministry in 2004, at age 59, after three decades as a church pastor.
Judy retired early from a career she loved, as a secondary school counselor, to give Don the help he needs, to take over those household and financial responsibilities he formerly handled, and to “enjoy doing some things together while we still can.” She recently published a book of many of Don’s most beloved and requested sermons and prayers, which she hopes “will let Don’s words continue to be an inspiration even when he can no longer offer them himself.” Don’s contribution to science will also continue, even beyond life, as he will donate his brain to Alzheimer’s research.
Don’s memory troubles began in his mid-fifties. He was initially diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. His difficulties continued to worsen, however, and in 2003 he was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Problems with memory and thinking led to his early retirement due to disability from the Lutheran ministry in 2004, at age 59, after three decades as a church pastor.
Judy retired early from a career she loved, as a secondary school counselor, to give Don the help he needs, to take over those household and financial responsibilities he formerly handled, and to “enjoy doing some things together while we still can.” She recently published a book of many of Don’s most beloved and requested sermons and prayers, which she hopes “will let Don’s words continue to be an inspiration even when he can no longer offer them himself.” Don’s contribution to science will also continue, even beyond life, as he will donate his brain to Alzheimer’s research.
Thelma Hackney was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Pennsylvania Alzheimer’s Disease Center in the Spring of 2007. We visited her and Calvin, her husband of 56 years, in early 2008 at their Philadelphia home.
“There had just been so many changes,” Calvin said, recalling his first clues to his wife’s cognitive problems. “After a lifetime of loving to read, Thelma gave up books. She always prepared our meals, and was an excellent cook, but more and more she’d make mistakes or just say she wasn’t up to cooking. Eventually, I began to realize there was some kind of problem.”
Calvin works hard to keep Thelma, a pre-school teacher for 25 years before her retirement, “in an active and joyful life.” She’s also enrolled in a clinical trial testing an experimental medication aimed at interfering with development of the amyloid brain plaque characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. “If there is any possibility that Thelma, or someone in the future, can benefit from her participating in this research, we’re going to do it," he said.
“There had just been so many changes,” Calvin said, recalling his first clues to his wife’s cognitive problems. “After a lifetime of loving to read, Thelma gave up books. She always prepared our meals, and was an excellent cook, but more and more she’d make mistakes or just say she wasn’t up to cooking. Eventually, I began to realize there was some kind of problem.”
Calvin works hard to keep Thelma, a pre-school teacher for 25 years before her retirement, “in an active and joyful life.” She’s also enrolled in a clinical trial testing an experimental medication aimed at interfering with development of the amyloid brain plaque characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. “If there is any possibility that Thelma, or someone in the future, can benefit from her participating in this research, we’re going to do it," he said.
Since her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 2005, Ada English has participated in two investigational drug trials at the University of Pennsylvania Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
At the completion of each trial, it was revealed that she had been randomally assigned to the group of participants receiving placebo.
Still, Joe, her husband of 51 years, continues to pursue drug trials for which she may be eligible, and will continue to drive the 90 minutes one way from their home in southern Delaware for these study visits at Penn.
Ada was happily retired from a long career as teacher and principal in an adult education program when the first symptoms of cognitive problems emerged. Today, she needs help selecting and putting on clothing and frequent hygiene reminders. She can no longer cook, understand what she reads, or undertake the crafts projects she used to enjoy. Still, her demeanor is pleasant and Joe says “we’re getting by.”
We visited with them in early 2008.
Still, Joe, her husband of 51 years, continues to pursue drug trials for which she may be eligible, and will continue to drive the 90 minutes one way from their home in southern Delaware for these study visits at Penn.
Ada was happily retired from a long career as teacher and principal in an adult education program when the first symptoms of cognitive problems emerged. Today, she needs help selecting and putting on clothing and frequent hygiene reminders. She can no longer cook, understand what she reads, or undertake the crafts projects she used to enjoy. Still, her demeanor is pleasant and Joe says “we’re getting by.”
We visited with them in early 2008.
Thelma Glasband died in May, 2008, completely debilitated, 18 years after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband of 66 years, Norman, is now himself a resident of the skilled nursing center where he helped care for Thelma, suffering from vascular dementia.
Leonardo Fernandez received years of round-the-clock care from his wife, Carmen Diaz, and their daughter Maria. He died several months after we filmed him and Carmen at their home.
Bill Speros died in 2008, after 11 years with Alzheimer’s disease. His wife, Karen, remains active in supporting Alzheimer’s research.
Sue Benson continues to live at home with her partner, Pam Storch. Women from their church take turns coming in to provide the attention and support Sue needs when Pam has to be away from the home.
James Miller cared for his wife, Josephine, at home for years before her advancing debilitation and his fragile health required her to enter a nursing home. Josephine Miller died in 2008, just six weeks after the death of her husband, to whom she had been married nearly 62 years.
