Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version

For all the music video lovers who could never figure out what the symbolism in videos meant. This is hilarious.

Old Friends and Dear Friends

A most amazing thing has happened on Facebook. I have found my best friends from grade school! It never ceases to amaze me that one can reconnect with old and dear friends on that social networking web site. I moved away at 14 when my dad was transferred to Minnesota over 30 years ago. It was the summer before ninth grade and we really had no chance to say goodbye. Over the years I have thought of them often and wondered how they were doing. Now I know! I know about their families, marriages and children. One of my friends is living kitty corner from the house that I grew up in and she has promised to take pictures when she has time. I chuckle to see the friends in common between us. I feel blessed to have them back in my life.

Today would have been Mom's 77th birthday. Happy Birthday Mommy. We love you and miss you.

Generosity Abounds

On a day that is marked by tragedy I am reminded of the unbelievable compassion and generosity of my friends. Today when I arrived home there was a package on my porch. I hadn't remembered ordering anything so I was very curious. I tore open the box and found two books that I had put on a wish list. I use my wish list as a way to keep track of things I'd like to eventually order; I never expect someone to use it and send me something from it. But one of my friends (and you know who you are!) not only took the time to look up my list, but also ordered two items that I had on it and had them delivered to me. You, my friend, have reminded me of the generosity and care that exists in this world, and that it far outweighs the evil and hate that we are more likely to see on a daily basis. I can't thank you enough for adding a great deal of happiness and sunshine to my day. Thank you very much not only for my gift, but also for being such an amazing person. If it's OK with you I'm going to 'pay it forward'. I know of someone who needs a day brightener.

My recommendations at amazon.com included several coloring books, books on Alzheimer's and chair pads. All of these things remind me of Mom. Not to mention that today is my birthday, my first without either of my parents. Birthdays are special in my family, always have been. I have been trying to avoid thinking about today mostly because thoughts of it make me really sad. But somehow, now that this day is here, I'm not really that sad. I still miss my mom and my dad, but others have taken on the task of remembering my day. My sister and brother-in-law sent a beautiful basket of flowers and a lovely card, as did my aunt and uncle. Good friends of my parents sent me a lovely e-card. It's nice to know that even though things have changed they are still sort of the same.

It's raining today; we need rain desperately. Everything is becoming green again.

Now that June is here, summer is going to switch into hyper speed and fly by so I have to make the most of each day, even the cold rainy ones.

Memorial Day

Last night I watched the perfect Memorial Day movie on HBO called "Taking Chance". It is the true story of a marine Lt. colonel escorting the remains of a fellow marine, Chance Phelps, on his final journey from Dover Airforce base to his final resting place in his hometown in Wyoming. PFC Chance Phelps was only 20 when he was killed in Iraq on Good Friday in 2004. Like many, he was motivated to join the marines by the events of September 11. Despite being wounded, he refused to be evacuated, and instead manned his M240 machine gun to cover the evacuation of the rest of his convoy. Upon withdrawal, he sustained his fatal wound to the head. Even though similar stories have played out across America since Operation Iraqi Freedom began, it was moving in so many ways to me. It was touching to see the respect that employees of Northwest Airlines gave their precious cargo as it traveled across the country. There was no fanfare, just quiet reverence for a brave young man who paid the highest price for his country. I will always remember PFC Chance Phelps and his story, not because it was unique, but because Lt. Colonel Strobl was so moved by his experience that he decided to share it with us. And that is what I will remember on this Memorial Day, those who have given their lives so that I might live free in a country I love.

I also remember my Mom and Dad and I miss them.

Service of Remembrance

Tonight I attended the hospice service of remembrance. It was very well attended, several hundred people were there. The service was to remember loved ones who passed away under the care of the hospice. In the center of the photo, left, are candles in remembrance of each loved one. It was a beautiful, balmy evening with a temperature in the 80s. The location was quite lovely, on a pond in a beautiful setting. They had music and readings for this solemn occasion. They read the names of every person who was represented by loved ones at the service. I shed tears for both Mom and Dad.

Stages of Grief

Here is an excellent article on the stages of grief from www.caring.com.

Heart Disorder Linked To Alzheimer's Disease

ScienceDaily (May 15, 2009) — Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City believe that they have made a breakthrough connection between atrial fibrillation, a fairly common heart rhythm disorder, and Alzheimer's disease, the leading form of dementia among Americans.

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In a study presented May 15, at "Heart Rhythm 2009," the annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society in Boston, researchers unveiled findings from the study of more than 37,000 patients that showed a strong relationship between atrial fibrillation and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

The study, which drew upon information from the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study, a vast database from hundreds of thousands of patients treated at Intermountain Healthcare hospitals, found:

• Patients with atrial fibrillation were 44 percent more likely to develop dementia than patients without the heart disorder.
• Younger patients with atrial fibrillation were at higher risk of developing all types of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's. Atrial fibrillation patients under age 70 were 130 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's.
• Patients who have both atrial fibrillation and dementia were 61 percent more likely to die during the study period than dementia patients without the rhythm problem.
• Younger atrial fibrillation patients with dementia may be at higher risk of death than older AF patients with dementia.

Intermountain Medical Center cardiologist T. Jared Bunch, M.D., the study's lead researcher, presented the findings at the scientific session.

"Previous studies have shown that patients with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk for some types of dementia, including vascular dementia. But to our knowledge, this is the first large-population study to clearly show that having atrial fibrillation puts patients at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Bunch.

Alzheimer's is a devastating brain disease affecting approximately 5.3 million Americans. It is the most common form of dementia (a general term for life-altering loss of memory and other cognitive abilities), and accounts for 60-80 percent of all dementia cases. Today, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Currently, the known risk factors for Alzheimer's are age, family history and genetics, though injury may also be linked with the disease. Heart health has long been suspected to play a role, but has not been linked. The Intermountain Medical Center study bolsters that connection.

"The study shows a connection between atrial fibrillation and all types of dementia," said Bunch. "The Alzheimer's findings — particularly the risk of death for younger patients — break new ground."

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm problem, affecting about 2.2 million Americans. It occurs when the heart beats chaotically, leading blood to pool and possibly clot. If the clot leaves the heart, a stroke can result.

The Intermountain Medical Center study looked at five years of data for 37,025 patients. Of that group, 10,161 developed AF and 1,535 developed dementia during the study period.

The study authors say more research is needed to explore further the relationship between atrial fibrillation and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

"Now that we've established this link, our focus will be to see if early treatment of atrial fibrillation can prevent dementia or the development of Alzheimer's disease," says cardiologist John Day, M.D., director of heart rhythm services at Intermountain Medical Center and a co-author of the study.

What is the Economic Value of Caregiving?

AARP recently released a comprehensive report on the economic value of caregiving. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, it's important to know how your informal caregiving affects our currently fragile economy. Consider these facts:

• In 2007, approximately 34 million family members were providing informal caregiving at any given point.
• Approximately 52 million family members provided informal caregiving at some time during 2007.
• The estimated value of unpaid caregiving for 2007 was $375 billion.
• This is an increase over the 2006 estimated value of unpaid caregiving, which was $350 billion.
• $375 billion is comparable to the total sales of Wal-Mart stores in the same year.
• The economic value of unpaid eldercare was more than long-term care Medicaid spending in all states.
• In 36 states, the economic value of caregiving was more than three times as high as long-term Medicaid spending.
• The economic value of unpaid eldercare, including caring for those with Alzheimer's, was more than three times as high as spending on home- and community-based Medicaid services.
• In 19 states, the economic value of caregiving was more than ten times as high as home- and community-based Medicaid spending.
• Unpaid caregiving includes personal care and help with daily tasks as well as assistance with complex medical procedures and administering medications.
• The “typical” caregiver in the United States is a 46-year-old woman working outside the home who provides more than 20 hours a week of eldercare to her mother.
• Those providing eldercare reported spending an average of $5,531 out-of-pocket for caregiving expenses in 2007.
• Long-distance caregivers reported the highest out-of-pocket expenses ($8,728) while those caring for someone nearby reported average out-of-pocket caregiving expenses of $4,570.

The report points out that family caregivers are the “backbone” of the United States’ long-term care system. I couldn’t agree more.

_Source:

_{Valuing the invaluable: The economic value of family caregiving, 2008 update. AARP Public Policy Institute. 2008 http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/i13_caregiving.pdf}

Blue Zones

I just watched an interesting piece on Dateline about 'blue zones', or places where people live long, healthy lives. If you look at the website for blue zones, you will see several things that these people do that researchers thing extend their lives and keep them disease-free. How many of these things do we do here in the US? Not very many. Our lives are too fast paced and stressful.

On another note, I hope the mothers who read this had a wonderful day today. I thought often and fondly of my own Mom today.