Alzheimer's Club

By Mark Brett

When diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a year ago, Yvonne Letestu believed her life was over.

Just prior to receiving that devastating news from her doctor, friends and family had been noticing that she was becoming absent minded--forgetting little things here and there.

And they weren't the only ones.
"I knew something was wrong," said Letestu, who is currently living at the Village by the Station. "But I was only I was 55 years old. I was devastated, I cried for days and days thinking that my whole world was going to come to an end."
However having just moved to Penticton from her home in Saskatchewan where she had spent almost all of her life, she was fortunate to meet Laurie Myres of the Penticton branch of the Alzheimer's Society of B.C.

"I began going to the Alzheimer's support group meetings and I could really relate to the other people there and what they were going through," said Letestu, who was among the 150 people who took part in Sunday's Investors Group Walk for Memories fundraiser for the society. "Because I was the youngest the people were very sympathetic and very supportive.

"And Laurie has been just awesome, she has done things with me and for me and has helped me understand that it is a disease that not just older people get, it can happen to anybody. It is just one of those things you have no control over."
As well she has a lot of support, in terms of emotional, spiritual and financial assistance from her immediate family which has substantially reduced her stress of daily life.

"I'm very blessed that way," said Letestu. "What I've realized is that we have to do the best we can with what we've got and use the time we have in our life not to be bitter but to become an example of what we can do."
She is now doing so well she is able to help other residents of the Village as a small way of giving back.

According to Myres a large part of Letestu's progress is a result of the early diagnosis.

"That is very important because the medication strives to hold the person at the level they are currently at so you want to plateau at the highest level that you can," she said. "Now, her attitude is wonderful, she has picked herself up and gone forward to have the best possible life."

Letestu agreed: "For the future - and I know there is no cure for this - my goal is to live life the best I can and do the best I can for myself and my family. To be an example that when you're having difficulties and these things are thrown at you, you make the best of them that you can."

Source: Mark Brett. Stepping out against Alzheimer's disease. PentictonHerald.ca (29 Jan 2007) [FullText]

Labels: Living with Alzheimer's