People with Alzheimer's

Sharing my story is very difficult. You see, I am 51 years old and have Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. I watched my mother’s sisters die of it, one of them with early onset. My mother is in late stages now at age 80. I knew the signs and symptoms so I was lucky to be diagnosed so early. Or am I lucky. The emotional roller coaster I am on is one that I would be very happy to be off. Feeling myself slipping from day to day is horrible, frightening, and lonely.

Me And My Alzheimer’s

Hello, this is my most recent account of how I first found out how I was suffering from Alzheimer’s (The early onset of) and how it has affected my day to day living and how its deteriorated since despite the help of some wonderful medics and medicine.

My name is Michael Ellenbogen. I am a writer. I am a husband. I am a father. I was a high level manager. In 2008, at age 49, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease after struggling to get a diagnosis since my first symptoms at age 39. I was always very successful in being able to accomplish anything I set my mind on doing. This diagnosis has changed my life in many ways. When I finally received my diagnosis of Alzheimer’s it was a relief to have an answer that explained the symptoms I was seeing in myself.

About a month ago, someone posted on Memory People about their Dad wanting a dog. Not just a dog, but a dog that could help her Dad in his daily routine of things. I was not sure what all that entailed, but it got me thinking. Could there be such a thing?

A dog that could help a dementia patient? So, I started searching. Surfing the web. To my surprise there are hundreds of businesses that indeed have "service dogs". Dogs that are trained. Not just in obedience, but trained for special needs people. I had long known about seeing eye dogs, but this was different.