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Jim's Wife Sherry's Story
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JIM'S WIFE SHERRY'S STORY Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material [3.236.55.137] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 23:20 GMT) Jim" bo" was concemed that maybe Jim had a bmin tumot. We both worked for the Missouri Highway Patrol. Jim began as a state trooper when he was eighteen years old. I followed after our marriage to work in the office. At age fifty-two, Jim started to show signs of something not being right. For months we went to doctor after doctor. "Well, I think it's stress." "Well, I think it's nerves." "No, I think it's this." "No, I think it's that." I wish they could make the diagnosis sooner so we don't have to be shuffled around month after month. Jim had every test; that's the hard part: not knowing and feeling like, "Am I crazy? Have I lost my mind?" You think you are imagining it or there's something psychologically wrong with you. At first no one took us seriously, especially after they ruled out brain tumor and other abnormalities of the brain. They ply you with all this medicine. Prozac, then this one and then that one. He became a zombie. He couldn't function. But he did get better and the doctor said he could go back to work. I don't know how he did it though. He was trying so hard to do his job but really couldn't. I wish they could come up with a better way to diagnose. The last doctor we went to before we found our wonderful doctor at Washington University was a neurologist who had the worst bedCopyrighted Material 75 JIM'S WIFE SHERRY'S STORY 76 side manner. He was very blunt and told us straight out that he thought Jim had Alzheimer's disease. Jim said he had thought so too, had always thought so. But I didn't; I didn't even consider it. Alzheimer's was for old people, not someone fifty-two years old! That doctor sent us to Washington University's department for Alzheimer's and they confirmed the diagnosis. Jim kept saying he had Alzheimer's and said, "Thank God it is not a brain tumor!" The doctors there thought that was so neat; he had such a good outlook. He's had a good outlook from day one, you know. He never gets down. He gets mad at himself and he really likes to beat on himself, but he never blames anybody but himself. I guess you have to have a good attitude about it. You really do. But that is the way he has always been. He's always taken one day at a time and had a lot of faith in God. The kids keep him going too. The kids are around all the time here. Two of our teenagers live at home. Our oldest daughter lives nearby. Our middle daughter lives here with her husband and is pregnant . So lots goes on here. Sometimes he gets aggravated at them because they're always here, always eating. It gets old and he gets tired of it, but when you have younger people around all the time it keeps you young. Basically, you couldn't stand it if they didn't come around. Copyrighted Material Copyrighted Material 77 [3.236.55.137] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 23:20 GMT) 78 Copyrighted Material Jim is very much a part of a loving family. His son and two daughters do not dwell on his Alzheimer's; they accept him as he is. Copyrighted Material 79 80 Copyrighted Material [3.236.55.137] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 23:20 GMT) Copyrighted Material 81 82 Copyrighted Material Jim can join in famil)' celebrations almost easil)'. Incredible support from famil)' and friends makes it possible. And we're going to have a baby around here too. Jim will be playing with the baby and spoiling it. He loves babies and I really think it will be good. I will be at work during the day. My daughter will be here during the day. Her husband works at Pizza Hut. He's a delivery driver. Whatever that is. She helps me with her father. Since she's here during the day with him it takes my mind off the fact that he is here by himself. Even though he doesn't need someone right now, he needs someone to see that he eats...