Lab Results! Let it Be!


Who me? Couldn't be! I'm backpacking around the world now with my husband and staying on the beach in Guam. It is absolutely beautiful with clear blue water that stretches beyond the cliffs into the skyline. We wade out for 15 minutes of shelling in the late afternoon. We're in a cove surrounded by cliffs of lush green bushes and palm trees. It is perfect for snorkeling and we can walk out forever. It drops off to 7 miles deep at the edge of the skyline. Ships used to dock in this harbor and deliver clothing and goods to Guam long ago until a smallpox epidemic spread across this cove and no one came here for years. Most of the local cove population died and was not replaced for years. Now it is full of fancy modern homes owned by doctors and lawyers driving fancy sports cars. They owners hardly come outside to look at the ocean view on their balconies. I guess they are used to it!

It was in our tiny one-room house perched over the ocean last night that the USC Hospital in Los Angeles posted the results of my Spinal Tap. I had the test done there a month ago when their Neurologist wanted to find out more about my memory loss. It was shocking to see that my online test results said 'Positive for Alzheimer's.' No, it can't be true! My husband was silent and I started to cry. This is not the way I planned for my life to end. I am 68 years young, recently retired and on a world trip with my husband of 47 years. 

We could hardly get to sleep and my husband assured me that he will care for me. I don't want to be a burden. I want to see my grandchildren grow up, graduate from college and marry. I want to be a great-grandma and read books to my grandchildren. I want to travel and go to the theater, concerts, and fun restaurants. Why? What did I do wrong to deserve this diagnosis? I always have prided myself on getting good grades, reading lots of books, and have published three of my novels on amazon.com. I have written three picture books that I still want to publish. I want to travel more. I want to dine under the stars. I want to camp by the beach. I want to take my grandchildren on trips around the world. I want to live each day and follow my dreams. I don't want to have a time limit on my health.

My dear, supportive husband Chuck reminded me that now I will qualify for future Alzheimer's drug and therapy sessions. There are many new medicines, light therapy, and therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer's. I will be happy to be a guinea pig for the possible remedies for Alzheimer's. When this amazing world trip ends in five months, I am ready to try new treatments. I have a scheduled tele doctor's appointment scheduled next week. Maybe the doctor will tell me that the results are a mistake and they need to redo the tests. Maybe I read the test results wrong. I hope to qualify for a new medicine or treatment that will reverse this scary diagnosis. I am now reading Kindle books about the MIND Diet, Alzheimer's treatments, and a MIND Diet cookbook. I will exercise more, eat healthier, and pray for a remedy. It can't be true and it's not a death sentence. I am a survivor and know that I will have a bright future. I just retired and am ready to enjoy life. Let this world trip continue as we travel and experience new cultures and enjoy the moment. Let it be!


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