A New Initiative Project

Foreword by Anne Payne

Alzheimer’s Family Services Manager,
Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services

I am honored that Kathy asked me to say a few words about her testament to eternal love despite what life decided to send her and George’s way. I had the pleasure of meeting George in September of 2003, when he became a member of a social program for individuals who were experiencing early memory loss. George’s memory loss was due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, although not everyone in the group had the same diagnosis.

What most impressed me about George, from the first time I met him until he had to leave our program, was his sense of humor. Every week, when our sessions would end, he would ask, “When are we going to graduate from this place?” That inevitably resulted in the group leaving with good feelings, which when you are working with people with this diagnosis, is of utmost importance. People may not remember what was said, or who said it, but they will always remember how they felt when they were with you. George had that impact on everyone he met, including those in the Mind Boosters program. He was flirtatious, funny, handsome, and so incredibly kind.

Alzheimer’s disease has a way of "taking away the person," or so it has been said. My personal belief is that Alzheimer’s disease strips people down to the very core of who they are. Individuals with Alzheimer’s feel sad, feel happy, get scared, love, grieve, sing, dance— they experience the entire spectrum of human emotions—as we all do. Kathy’s book expresses this in every word. She realized throughout the process that George would always be there. Her love for him and his for her is in her words, "thoughts and deeds."

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be the hardest thing anyone can do. Statistically speaking, caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s are twice as likely to suffer from depression and/or physical decline. George and Kathy’s journey took a different route. Together, they faced this with courage, humor, wisdom and most importantly love. Kathy said to me after this process was over, she felt that how she dealt with things were of her own choosing. She chose to deal with this challenge with dignity and humor. May her words offer solace and support to anyone who is on this journey, and may it heal the wounds.

Thank you, Kathy, for your words and for your bravery.
—Anne Payne