My mother Janet was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in November 2019 at age 61. It was absolutely devastating.
My mother and daughter in May 2016 and February 2017.
It took me more than a year to be able to speak the words aloud without sobbing: “My mother has Alzheimer’s disease.” I shared about it on social media for the first time at the end of 2020, joined a virtual support group for adult children of parents with early onset Alzheimer’s in January 2021, and started therapy shortly after.
I spoke publicly about my mother’s Alzheimer’s on the Ali on the Run Show podcast in May 2021. I left that conversation realizing I had so much more to say, and started writing about my mother’s journey here.
My mother in July and October 2023.
I try to write honest depictions of the experience of slowly losing my mom to this cruel disease. People often wait to share their most difficult moments until after they’ve come out on the other side and are able to look back on them with grace and identify the lessons they learned. I think it’s important to shed light on the darkest bits, too. Many of us are still in progress.
Below are the stories I’ve shared so far.
2021
All Your Joys & Sorrows
Autonomous Bombs
2022
Wally: Part 2 (And More Life Stuff)
Hot Tub Time Machine
2023
Is This the Year My Mom Will Die?
The Next Chapter
Rollercoaster Road
Past Lives
A Julia Child Christmas
2024
Destabilized
Missing
Conversations I Wish We Had About Dementia
A New Path
Experience
As much as I hate being part of this club, I always appreciate talking with other people who have lost or are losing a parent to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. It’s a very isolating experience and it makes a world of difference to know you’re not alone. Please feel free to connect with me on Instagram @dev.on.running.
Dev on Running 