Before West Nile

This will be the best year of my life.  There are so many exciting things happening this year.  I decided to retire from my position of 18 years as Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association.  The “R” date is set for December 1.  This fall will be one of fulfillment and enjoyment for me.  September 13, is my 70^th birthday and I am planning a girls weekend in the mountains to celebrate.  After that we will have the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and that will be my final walk.  Then in November we have planned a luncheon to recognize the time I dedicated to the Association.  Table captains are already getting their tables filled for the event.   I chose December 1, to retire since my husband and I will be celebrating our 50^th anniversary December 26.  We have a big party planned with friends and family.

How fun it will be to look back on the successes of my career and be able to move to the next chapter in my life.  When I sent the announcement of my retirement to board members, colleagues and friends I had such nice responses.   I have done a good job in raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and helping many families over the years.   I am grateful for the experience and opportunity. 

On August 31, my husband and I went to a funeral for the mother of a good friend.  I got dressed up and felt great.  After the funeral we went to a reception at the family home.  There was great food but after eating I began to feel nauseous so we left.  I had a headache and just didn’t feel well overall.  I thought I had eaten some bad food so I laid around for the rest of the Labor Day weekend.

On Tuesday September 3, my daughter came to the house to check on me.  I had gotten dressed for work but was not feeling well.  I had a conference call with my staff so I made the call from home.  The ladies on the call could tell I was not well in fact they later told me they thought I was having a stroke.  They suggested I get off the call and they would take care of it.  When my daughter walked in she said I was passed out at my desk.

She immediately took me to the urgent care clinic and my temperature was 104.9 and pulse oxygen was very low.  They called an ambulance and that started my 52 day hospital stay.  When arriving at the hospital they did a spinal tap and decided I had encephalitis meningitis.