FULL TEXT OF ANTHONY PESARE'S WASHINGTON DC, CANDLELIGHT VIGIL SPEEECH - MARCH 23, 2009 - ALZHEIMER'S PUBLIC POLICY FORUM

This evening I have been drawn here to you because like you, my life has been touched by Alzheimer's disease. I stand here with caregivers, advocates, and many who are personally fighting Alzheimer's disease itself. We all acknowledge the presence of Alzheimer's disease and the need to see it and the terrible consequences it generates eradicated forever.

As you know, there is a misconception about Alzheimer's disease that it only strikes when you get old. I can tell you nothing is further from the truth. My wife Tracy and I were married for 21 years. We have 3 sons. Tracy was a loving mother, supportive wife, and pillar of strength. She was always there when you needed help, advice, or just someone to talk to. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 39 and passed away last July at the age of 43.

Of course, looking back, there were subtle signs occurring earlier than that. We went through several years of difficulties and frustrations with different doctors and misdiagnosis because everyone thought she was too young to have Alzheimer's. The stress of knowing something was wrong and not being able to put your finger on it strained our marriage. When her diagnosis was finally confirmed, I felt terrible sadness, but also a new inner strength. By knowing what we were dealing with, I began to educate myself on Alzheimer's and how to best help my wife as her primary caregiver. I took a progressive stance on dealing with issues that would confront us. We became more of a team and supported each other through good days and bad. Our sons also saw the changes and each of my sons gave their mom support as they tried to understand what was unfolding before them. We took the old saying, "one day at a time" as our new family motto. As Tracy's Alzheimer's progressed, we would all work together to hold the family intact. My sons and I would always be giving love and support toTracy even when it one day reached a point where we were not sure she could understand.

In the course of my wife's treatment, we would also find out that her Early Onset Alzheimer's was hereditary and a familial predisposition existed. I now have a new front to face because my sons are now facing a future that might include Alzheimer's. This is why I have come to the public policy forum. It is imperative that we make it known that we cannot afford to see another generation suffer from Alzheimer's.

In as much as Alzheimer's disease had changed my wife, I began to realize how it had also changed me. I was determined to learn from my local Alzheimer's Association chapter what I could do to best help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. I hope, as I know you all do, that working to raise public awareness about this disease and why it is so importnat to make it a priority issue to increase research funding, that our efforts here this week will expediate a cure for Alzheimer's disease.

The pain of never really being able to say goodbye to my wife will be with me always. I hope that in this tribute and vigil we can all pay homage to those we have lost as we each take one day at a time to move forward to when we will all live in a world without Alzheimer's.

Thank you.

©Copyright 2009 Anthony Pesare