As we were taking down the Faces of Alzheimer’s Photo Exhibit at the Shaw Center this week, a young LSU Student from Houston tapped me on the shoulder and asked if she could have a copy of one of the photos hanging on the wall……. “the couple dancing,” she asked. That couple is Narses and Luz Barona, married for almost 53 years, and still sharing their love and commitment with each other even though this intruder called Alzheimer’s has entered Narses’ life.
Luz gave me permission to send a copy of the photo to this young student and I mentioned in my email to her that the photo must have had a huge impact on her. She quickly replied after I emailed the photo to her, “It really was sooo touching and reminded me of something very important to me!”
These “connections” were not uncommon from the remarks from individuals who viewed the exhibit, those who left comments, and through the number of emails and phone calls shared with our organization throughout the month of November, which was National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Impactful, to say the least, the 65 photos on the wall and the over 200 various photos in the video display truly touched people in ways indescribable to others. The “connections” were even deeper when we, as staff, mourned the loss of two individuals in the displayed photos who passed away during the month, a heartrending reality of the beginnings and endings of this devastating disease.
Our other November awareness activities had caregivers “breaking bread” and “connecting” with other caregivers at a very special cooking demonstration and luncheon with Chef John Folse and Paul Gates at White Oak Plantation. Caregivers also learned healthy eating habits at a delightful afternoon with Chef Peter Sclafani at Ruffino’s Restaurant. And, at mid-month, we all gathered at the steps of the State Capitol to light our candles in remembrance of those persons who have passed away with Alzheimer’s disease as well as honoring those who currently suffer with the disease.
Every 69 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I can’t count the number of times people tell me that they know a friend, or a friend’s friend, or a grandmother who had/has Alzheimer’s. The “connections” are growing with the rising statistics.
The Faces of Alzheimer’s Photo Exhibit certainly connected many people, whether through the range of expressions in the photos themselves, the stories of the individual lives, with others viewing the Exhibit, with the families in the video display, or just through one particular photo, like the one of Narses and Luz Barona dancing. An LSU student connected the photo to an important moment in her life and it made a powerful impression on her. We hope the Exhibit, and the month of activities in November, did the same for you.
-Dana Territo, Director of Services
No comments:
Post a Comment