Making Alzheimer's Come Untrue
by
Motte Brown
on Mar 26, 2008 at 12:12 AM
My mother-in-law, Ella, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's six years ago when she was just 54. Now she's in the late stages and well beyond caring for herself in the most basic sense. For example, she can't hold a cup of water and bring it to her mouth to drink. Someone has to take hold of her hands and lift the glass to her lips. And more and more she fails to recognize any of her loved ones, including her husband. Sometimes she doesn't even know who she is.
I thought mainly of Ella and her condition this Easter. And I thanked God for its transience. Because of the resurrection, I know she'll be perfect and whole again soon. You see, Ella is a believer. And more than the precious memories of her as wife and mother, we'll treasure the hope we have of her restoration in Christ.
We read The Jesus Storybook Bible as a family and I am often struck by the sweet simplicity of truth the author pulls out of scripture. In the chapter describing the resurrection, Sally Lloyd-Jones describes Mary's thoughts as she runs back to the city after just seeing the resurrected Christ:
Mary ran and ran, all the way to the city. She had never run so fast or so far in all her life. She felt she could have run forever. She didn't even feel like her feet touched the ground. The sun seemed to be dancing and gleaming and bounding across the sky, racing with her and shining brighter than she could ever remember in the clear, fresh air.
And it seemed to her that morning, as she ran, almost as if the whole world had been made anew, almost as if the whole world was singing for joy -- the trees, the tiny sounds in the grass, the birds ... her heart.
Was God really making everything sad come untrue? Was he making even death come untrue? She couldn't wait to tell Jesus' friends. "They won't believe it!" she laughed.
In the brokenness of life, the hope found in the resurrection of Christ becomes most vivid and most dear. And who among us will be untouched by the sorrows life can bring. When they come, look to the resurrection. Know that whatever it is, it is most assuredly temporal. And for believers, paradise awaits.
1. Michele Samuelson had the following to say on Mar 26 at 7:44 AM:
Motte, thank you for sharing this.
2. Sarah22 had the following to say on Mar 26 at 11:43 AM:
This post was a blessing to read! How WONDERFUL to think about how someday we will share paradise together with our Creator for all eternity and all the pain that sin in this life has wrought will come untrue!
I always sat in church as a child and had lot of trouble understanding why my preacher spoke so often of “longing for Heaven”. It seemed strange as I thought earth was a pretty decent place at the time! Years later as a believer who has been through many of the heartaches life has to offer I share that same longing for Heaven, while I am happy to live and serve in this life God's given me, I am also anticipating Heaven more and more each day. Having cancer and realizing just how frail my body is and how broken it's capable of becoming really strengthened my desire for Heaven and I am actually very thankful for that.
3. Holly had the following to say on Mar 26 at 2:52 PM:
My sweet grandmother Grace was afflicted with the Alzheimers, too. She passed away 3 years ago, just before my girl, Grace, was born. I spent time thinking of her this Easter, and rejoicing that she is whole. We lost her gradually, over a period of several years, but I know that when Christ comes again she will be raised in a moment to live with Him! What a glorious truth! How blessed is the the hope we have!
4. Laura had the following to say on Mar 26 at 7:48 PM:
Thanks for sharing Motte. My grandmother passed away the beginning of this year after a long and discouraging battle with Alzheimers (and a couple of other medical conditions). But I have the peace of knowing that I'll see her again someday as a whole and perfect being! Until then, I'll just remember how wonderful she was and how awesome her jam drops tasted! :-)
5. bbnks had the following to say on Mar 26 at 10:03 PM:
From what I know about the prevention/treatment of Alzheimer's disease people may want to investigate food additions and vitamins supplements such as the following:
Dark green leafy vegetables
Bran and wheat germ
Folic acid capsules 800 mcg
Vitamin B12 in the methylcobalamin form 300-500 mcg
Vitamin C 2000 mg in 500mg doses
For the vitamin supplements I recommend Jarrow brand vitamins.