I struggle to find the right adjectives or verbs to best describe AD. In living with this disease for over 10 years, experiencing the pain first hand, reading the threads on this site, and doing my own blog for my DW, I usually pause when I need to try to describe this _____________disease. I am listing here a collection of numerous words we use to try to define, explain, communicate or just name this devastating disease. Here is a start of a list. Please add to it and maybe we can rate the names later on. Some of the words I remember right now are:
1. horrible 2. devastating 3. sad 4. “sucks” 5. hard 6. unfair 7. cruel 8. painful 9. dreaded 10. S___ty 11. etc.
Add your thoughts to this list and I will try to combine it later. There are so many adjectives but really, I have not found one that even comes close to best describing this thing we call AD.
When I wrote my book, I tried to find words to describe it all--and I couldn't. I've always written--I'm pretty good with words, I like words, but the full impact of what happense to us, our loved ones, the family is simply beyond a dictionary, a thesaurus. For the moment, I'll add -
OK!!! Now I have a really big problem. When I make my next combined list, should I just include Webster words or Phranque's words, or both. Maybe a ( ) addition to some Webster words. As if my life were not mixed up enough. You've done it again Frankie (Phranque). bill (bhill)
“a thief that sneaks into the brain and robs its victims of so much of what is precious about life – our memories and our experiences, ultimately life itself.” - Maureen Reagan (President Reagan’s daughter)
I can only describe it as this, "It's as though someone comes along and throws your little basket of hopes and dreams to the wind. Puff, life as you know it is gone.............."
DESPAIR- my identity gone- I feel incomplete without him- even though he is late stage 6 ALZ. Yes, paralyzing. Asking God every moment to calm your mate and help you through this tragedy. Lonely every minute for my husband.
When the numbness wears off, the pain of loss is excruciating.............................Last night I prayed the Lord my soul to keep, then I cried myself to sleep, so sure life wouldn't go on without you. But oh this sun is blinding me as it wakes me from the dark. I guess the world didn't stop for my broken heart."