The Years Before - Part 2

Many years later, my grandmother's sister also began a descent into alzheimer's. We didn't know much about that, or exactly when it began. She lived in a different country and had no family (no children). She eventually passed away when she was 99, and up until about 10 or so years before that, she corresponded with us by letter and cards, when those suddenly ceased. We found out later she was moved to a nursing home at that point.

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Shortly before she passed away, my mother's eldest sister was diagnosed with alzheimer's. This would be the third family member with a dementia related disease, and now all of us were becoming alarmed. Very alarmed. She too ended up in a nursing home, and passed away just a couple of years after arriving there.

My mom's next oldest sister is in a nursing home, though she has all her mental faculties, and so far (in her 80s is not suffering from alzheimer's). Her body is not co-operating and she needs physical help, but thankfully, she is our families remaining matriarch. (Note to update: Sadly, my aunt passed away in 2012, but she never did exhibit signs or symptoms of alzheimer's - maybe there is hope for the rest of us!)

Next? Well, the next in line was Mom - the youngest of that family.