Comments on: Alzheimer’s and Grey’s Anatomy

By: Shelley Cummings-Giles

Shelley Cummings-Giles — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:15:49 +0000

It happened yesterday. it was friday evening and I got a call from the nurse in the home where mom lives. Mom has been very passive for the last year, only answering a few simple questions, not initiating anything, seeming so unaware of her surroundings. The nurse is so excited on the phone explaining what he is seeing. The change is remarkable; talking to all the staff, joking with people, smiling and enjoying all the interactions, asking the staff to get her an appointment with the doctor about a physical ailment she believes she is having. When I get there I am in shock to say the least. We begin to talk, she asks me questions, she comments on my hair, my clothes, things so typical of her in the past. We chat about other family and I realize she is unaware of a number of things: my dad has been dead for 9 years but she is talking about him being away on a job and that he has moved into this place where she is living, just a few days ago. She comments on the place she is living and things she notices and teases the nurses when they tease her, her humor and abilities being typical of her about 5 or 6 years ago. She doesn’t want help and believes she is still able to drive and will get her own things at the store, not wanting to bother me. She wants to get up to use the washroom even though she has been unable to do this for almost 2 years as she is now in a wheel chair. She believes she can walk and have a bath by herself as well. Her eyes are clear and bright with none of the fearful,searching, confused look. Her spirit and knowing are back, if only for a short time.

It doesn’t last. The next day she is awake after an afternoon nap. I am there and she has begun to go back. As wonderful as it was to have her back, seeing her leave again brings tears, as losing her so quickly is like a death of sorts, no time to adjust. It is hard to believe that what she was the night before was even real. I wonder where that part of her has gone and want to know how to help her find herself again.

By: amyh

amyh — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:25:10 +0000

I am experiencing an awakening right now with a client. He has been suffering from AD for many years and I have been caring for him for four years. The main effects are his short term memory, it only last about 30 seconds. On a friday morning he was his old self, sitting, and needing to be reminded to do ADLs and still not knowing me. When I returned in the afternoon he was totally lucid. Had called his family found out he had AD and was calling everyone he knew. He hadn’t made a phone call in about 3 years. He could tell you every detail back to you of every person he spoke to. This lasted for 2 1/2 days then he lost the ability again for 1 1/2 days, and now he came back and is as sharp as a tack. I got him to his doctor of many years so he could witness this phenomenon. Will it last? who knows. Should you value the time while it is happening? Absolutely. I don’t think anyone can say that this is not AD because this doesn’t happen with AD when it is a disease that we are still in need of so much research.

By: New Resource: Alzheimer’s Patient “Wakes Up” « Every Patient’s Advocate

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:08:13 +0000

[...] At the time I could find no references online that spoke to this possibility. I blogged about it. Read the post here. [...]

By: michaelm

michaelm — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:10:58 +0000

Trisha-

I lost my mom almost 2 years ago to Alzheimer’s and read this post with interest.
Knowing what I know about physiology, the vast wasteland of a brain riddled with tangles and plaques could never recover. Had I seen the episode of Grey’s Anatomy I probably would have thought , “Shame on you, Hollywood,” for giving people like us false hope. It’s not fair in the best interest of the scripted storyline.
My mom love to sing as well. It’s been explained to me that AD doesn’t affect the part of the brain that supplies words and lyrics associated with a song. Ironic that my mother couldn’t remember my name but new every stinkin’ word of Jingle Bells.
Maybe it’s just God’s way of letting us know they’re still ‘in there’.
I found you through the WP tag ‘Alzheimer’s’. I will be back.
Wonderful post.
~m

By: Trisha Torrey

Trisha Torrey — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:02:22 +0000

Gloria,

I’m so sorry to hear about your Mom.

My objection to the “carrot” on Grey’s Anatomy is that I think it subtracts from the horror of the disease, and therefore the understanding of it. Unfortunately, when misinformation is put out there, perceptions get skewed.

Did you know that Bush’s proposed 2008 federal budget cuts funding for Alzheimer’s research? Is it possible that one of the budget developers/recommenders is a fan of Grey’s Anatomy? Can’t say for sure, of course, but again — perceptions can get skewed.

Here’s more info about the budget cut:

http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_4730.asp

Best of luck to your mother and your family, Gloria. I wish you all well.

Trisha

By: Gloria

Gloria — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:10:23 +0000

Hi,

My Mom also has dementia, so of course it affects her and everyone who loves her. It wasn’t important to me that “Grey’s Anatomy” was not completely factual about the way they portray Meredith’s mother and her dementia. In many ways, it is too painful to really watch it, and I’m not sure it would make for good TV to see the physical and mental deterioration that a person like our mothers experiences.

Like you, I am happy if/when we get the occasional moment(s) when Mom is back with us. I miss turning to Mom for advice, I miss her support and love, I miss the little things she would to show that she cares, and most of all I miss Mom.

Thanks for giving us an avenue to vent.

Gloria