Message Forum

Mike, just wanted to add to the comments of the others regarding your diagnosis. Yes, it sucks but sometimes like gives us crap and we live with it. Two of my aunts had it, but their spouses and/or kids helped out. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Peace, joe

10/21/24 01:15 PM

#14521

Mike,

Thanks for including us in your journey. We are with you!

p.s. I forgive you for trying to pour your milk shake on my head in the cafeteria - sort of.

10/21/24 11:09 PM

#14522

Forgot: Berries. Eat lots of them. They are rich in antioxidents. Good for brain health.

10/22/24 09:38 AM

#14523

John Jackson

Mike, following Dave’s lead, I forgive you for all your transgressions, especially your recent unkind comments about my senior picture. So please know that all is forgiven. But did I ever tell you that, given your senior picture, I had you pegged not as a journalist/newspaperman/college prof but as a used car salesman?

10/22/24 02:14 PM

#14524

Get used to it, John. I'm assuming this forgiveness thing is ongoing, which gives me a free ticket to mock the hell out of you and whoever else strikes me as an easy target from now on.

10/22/24 04:11 PM

#14525

Mark Schweickart

Mike – I may be in a simiar situation. I recenty had a severe memory lapse (worse than my usual short term memory failures) that so alarmed my wife that she took me the Emergency Room in case I was having a stroke. The MRI and CT Scan suggested to the ER doc that I was not in any immediate danger, but he said it would require a more thorough analysis be done by a neurologist. Unfortunately, my health-care service being what it is, meant that it had to be scheduled for a later date. That's coming up in about two weeks.

So... fingers crossed.

10/22/24 06:45 PM

#14526

Sorry about your memory lapse recently, Mark S. I suppose what is going to get all of us will be either cancer, heart, or dementia. Getting older is not for the weak of heart! joe

10/22/24 08:07 PM

#14527

If I had known how complicated aging was going to be, I would have gone through it years ago.

10/22/24 09:55 PM

#14528

Janie Albright (Blank)

Mike, your diagnosis is pretty shocking considering how well you write and communicate. But the good news is you can now be on meds that can slow the decline. My husband had a neurodegenerative condition called MSA (multiple system atrophy) and initially his symptoms were all physical but then later he started to exhibit some cognitive things that led us to a neurologist at Ohio State. They told us the meds can't reverse the decline but can slow it. They put him on Aricept and he actually showed huge immediate improvement. This was more that 8 years ago so I'm sure the meds have improved. They also said they thought it was Alzheimer's but you can't know definitively until an autopsy. His turned out to be Lewy Bodies. Again he had a neurodegenerative condition so definitely not apples to apples but just wanted to share how important getting on the meds early can be. Keep up your writing and classes and posts. The best possible medicine!

10/22/24 10:00 PM

#14529

Thank you too, Donna. And sorry to hear that, mark. Keep us informed. it's spooky, losing memories - but so touching to have people around you who can fill in the blanks. Oh, and Janie, thank you for sharing that, as I thank all of you for your caring. As for me being relatively coherent at the moment -- yes, I'm even still teaching a writing class at the liberal arts college down here - all I can tell you, as you may already know, is that the symptoms develop slowly. The only obvious new symptom I have right now is the uptick in forgetfulness, and I can't tell how much of that is simply due to the shock and fear of this thing or my own realization of what my girlfriend had been noticing for years.

Thank goodness that we have meds that can at least slow it down. But it's still winning.

There is hope, medically, but don't expect to see the headlines any time soon. Billions are being invested in research towards a definitive cure and I've seen one specific project that looks interesting. But realistically everything with this disease is a longshot. These are brain cells we're talking about. Millions of them. The delicate little cabeza soup kitchen you got going on up there. Something goes wrong with that delicate cerebral stew it's not exactly like fixing a flat tire to get it straight.

I know I keep saying this but I don't want to hog space in this forum and I do promise I will slow down with these messages. But it has meant so much to me to be able to share it and to hear from you here at the outset of a long haul. It's a lot to take in for right now but things will settle down. By the way my email is mcleod.michael1@gmail.com if anyone wants to connect more privately, which is probably for the best. I'd like that.

Here, finally, is a link to the best story I have found that sums up research into either preventing or curing the disease, and the particular difficulties involved. The key word here, is, unfortunately, "desperate."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/health/dementia-alzheimers-cure-drugs.html

10/24/24 06:17 PM

#14530

Riding the Bench

A couple nights ago sports fans got to witness a one-of-a-kind event - one of the few such events ever in sports. The Los Angeles Lakers made it a point to get the event out of the way as soon as possible, rather than let fans speculate and wonder "if and when"?

The Lakers let 39 year-old LeBron James and his 20 year old son "Bronny" shared the court at the same time - four all of 4 minutes. A Father and Son may not have ever happened in my memory except for Gordie Howe and his sons Mark and Marty for the houston Aeros NHL hockey team (Howe was 45 at the time and played several more seasons).

But in this case, it was mere ceremony, as young "Bronny" will not see much court time with his dad and the "starters". Nor will he see much time with the second 5. He will likely be one of those last two or three extras at the end of the bench, who play only when the game is well in hand - those last few, number 11 and number 12 who "ride the bench" for most of the season.

I know something about "riding the bench" for the whole season. In our sophomore year I shared that "honor" with classmate Tom Dodsworth on the JV team. I'm not sure who was #11, and who was #12, but it doesn't really matter. We became bench buddies that year as we sat through most games at the far end of the bench with very little playing time. We sat together, mostly quiet or chatting about the game, but sometimes the converation went to something in the crowd, the cheerleaders, or our plans for after the game.

But occasionally, Coach Charlie (Mental) would shock us back to reality by calling one of our names to report to the scorers bench and actually enter the game. Yikes! There we were, in front of God and everyone - our teammates, classmates, and even our families. Sometimes God calls you to be "in the game". You don't always get to hide out "on the end of the bench".

But we didn't have a 22 year veteran all-star dad on the floor with us. I just hope young "Bronny" can hold up under the pressure.

NOTE: In my case, I think I owe a debt of gratitude to my teammates - especially my close buddies Tom Litzinger, Kevin Ryan, Tom McKeon, and Steve Hodges for not embarassing me - they offered me encouragement. They were well trained nice Catholic boys who were taught to be kind to the poor and lowly.

I hope Bronny's teammates will be so kind.

-------------------

The real purpose of the 11th and 12th man on a team that plays 5 men on court at a time.

For those wonderig about the odd numbers here is the real truth. During practice part of the time is spent in real game ("scrimmage") simulation. Five guys on each side, playing full court as in real game situation. But alas, Mike Kaylor or Al Morse might be out with a cold, and in goes "Mitchell" to fill the vacancy. Or maybe, Steve Gramm has a bad ankle and it's "Dodsworth" get in there!"

If that rare occaision when we were 3 guys short - you guessed it - Coach Charlie to the rescue. And he wasn't that far removed from his playing days at Aquinas so he was no easy competition.

That's life on the end of the bench.

10/24/24 09:49 PM

#14531

After posting this photo twice in the past year or so, I just caught the mispelling. For those of you who might have been fooled, Tom McKeon's part in the photo is played by a certain "Tom Mcann". I don't believe I knew him but he looks a hell of a lot like my friend "Goose".

10/24/24 09:51 PM

#14532

James Hamilton, M. D.

Some Late October Color

Unfortunately,for several reasons,I was unable to make my usual September foray into the high country to capture those fall aspen photos.

Midday landscape pictures are often frowned upon as the light is so harsh that contrast and other features are not ideal. At least that is what many say. This afternoon I had some time on my hands and the day was simply beautiful so I went out to a couple of local places (within blocks of our home) and thought I would give it a try.

Aspen season is pretty much over at this latitude but the cottonwoods, some elms and the scrub oaks are still wearing their fall colors.It was a beautiful day with lots of blue sky and sunshine - not ideal for photos but very pleasant to wander about in some wooded areas. Actually I find these days can render some very good landscapes and so I clicked off quite a lot of shots.

One of my faves was in the east end of Ute Valley Park :

(How's that for using nature as a "frame" for the main subject of the picture 😄?)

I also discovered a hidden pond just off a road that I drive multiple times per week of which I was unaware:

(The demarcation line in the upper middle of the shot was a shadow cast by a building on a hill above the pond.)

Happy October!

Jim

10/25/24 07:40 AM

#14533

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Beautiful landscapes and wonderful photographs, Jim. Thanks for sharing.

10/25/24 02:59 PM

#14534

Jim H, these are beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us all. Joe

10/26/24 11:37 AM

#14535

James Hamilton, M. D.

Donna and Joe,

Thanks for your comments.

Unlike the mountain and wide open spaces that I usually like to photograph, those three pics lack that "wow' factor. On some of my pictures I am going more for a sense of serenity, especially now that older age makes accessing those mountainous and rocky outcrops a bit more intimidating 😮!

Jim

10/26/24 05:35 PM

#14536

Jim, even if your pictures don't have the "WOW" factor you like to see, they are still beautiful to me. joe.

10/27/24 04:56 AM

#14537

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Jim, I find that at our age my preference for WOW has been overtaken by my desire for PAU (Catalan for PEACE) as in serenity. Please continue to share your images of PAU.

10/27/24 12:43 PM

#14538

James Hamilton, M. D.

Donna and Joe,

Encouraging responses! I shall go for some more "pau" but, when I feel a bit more daring, I may attempt a "wow" if I can do so safely and perhaps with more of a zoom lens 🤔. The problem with "wow" is not just the subject of the photo but rather the place and the angle from where I like to position myself in order to take the shot.

Jim

10/27/24 07:28 PM

#14539

Joseph D. McCarthy

Mary Margaret, regarding your post #14502. After my father died my mother continued to live basically alone for about 20 years, while attending to cancer treatments and working six days a week, in a three story house. Her room was on the second floor and the wasing was done in the basement. She occassionly, about once a month went to be sure all was okay on the third floor. She also had to put up with Martha, a friendly ghost who had died in the home about a year before my parents purchased the home. So stay active and climb the stairs to keep in shape. I hope without a medical degree I can say that.

Mike, regarding your post #14510. Get back to teaching, those poor kids in Florida need all the help a competent person like yourself can provide. Also, think of writing a book because you have the knowledge and the ability.

Finally, Jim, I agree with Donna in her post #14537; I just can't say it as elegantly. My response is they are all bootiful.

Now back to the forum.
Joe Mcc

10/28/24 02:52 PM

#14540

Thanks so much to all, to Jim and Mary Margaret in particular, for reaching out to me about my diagnosis.

I'm sorry in a way to have introduced a dark cloud to the forum but I was just so damn shocked and vulnerable that my first instinct was to reach out.

I do want to emphasize and repeat that this is a terrible disease but a slow moving one, slow as in over years and years, and I have no terrible symptoms at this point apart from infrequent memory lapses and, of course, being scared, and sometimes I wonder if the fear of it has as much to do with my confusion as much as the disease itself. I often think that people were better off in generations past when, I assume, they had this disease and its progression was dismissed with a much milder, generalized, vaguely sypathetic word: senility. Only via the attention of a very acute girlfriend and omg do I wish you all could meet her were my initial symptoms duly noted, which led to my diagnosis.

I did include some general information about the disease from my readings about it in previous posts but bear in mind I am no expert. I don't intend to talk about it from here on out -- or if so, only from a personal point of view, and even that, sparingly.

As for right now: Buckeyes won this weekend and I'm enjoying the wonderful Florida fall except for the fact that the mosquitos are still out and also cherish the love of the people who are dear to me and yes, the joys (and pains in the butt) of teaching the skillset that I cherish to students in the classroom at the lovely little liberal arts college near my home in Winter Park. My son lives in the apartment adjacent to my home so he's here for me, as is the love of my life who lives just a few minutes away -- omg do I wish I could introduce you to this fabulous, way smarter than I am woman.

It's too cold to swim in the pool out back or else I'd be out there doing laps but it is lovely to sit on the porch and enjoy the view of it just the same. I'm still here, in both body and spirit, and that will be true for quite a while - for years, from everything I have been able to learn, though with gradually diminishing returns. If there's a bright side to this cluster (insert vulgar word here) of a disease, that would be it.

10/29/24 01:29 PM

#14541

Be careful Mike,

That gator on the runway at Orlando airport could be headed to your back yard pool.

10/30/24 09:56 AM

#14542

lol that's a big 'un dave. love the guy shooing it away like it's a flock of chickens. Show me somebody in columbus ohio whose first instinct upon spotting a huge alligator would be to run straight towards it.

you know i am teaching just one writing class of about 20 students at nearby rollins college and I think it may be my last. I love teaching but it's just a constant worry, bigger in my head than it ought to be.

taking next semester off and may not return.

happy halloween to all. Have goodies in stock and decorated my alcove and front walk to the nines. have long since grown accustomed to a balmy florida evening ghosting experience as opposed to the crisp fall nights I remember.

10/30/24 12:23 PM

#14543