Pat Summitt Diagnosed with Dementia

[SmootSmack]

Such a sad story. Summitt, in my opinion, is one of the best coaches of any sport ever.

Pat Summitt, Tennessee women’s basketball coach, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease - The Washington Post

Pat Summitt's legacy extends far beyond court for Tennessee Lady Vols - ESPN

[itvnetop]

Extremely sad. I love her attitude though- "I don't want a pity party."

[Ruhskins]

Very sad to hear this.

[GMScud]

This sucks. My Dad's best friend (and former US Ambassador to Cyprus and National Security Advisor to President Clinton), who is like a second father to me, was diagnosed with early onset in 2005. My Dad literally threw up the day he got the news. I cried a lot that day. The projected life expectancy 5+ years past initial diagnosis is pretty grim. It's been really sad and gut wrenching watching such a brilliant and accomplished man fade like this.

A million prayers to Pat Summitt. It's going to be a tough road.

[MTK]

Sad to hear this. My Grandfather is going through this right now, but he's 84. At 59 Summit is too young to have to face this.

[skinsguy]

Horrible disease. Then again no disease is a great disease, but I can't imagine having your mind slowly robbed from you.

[MTK]

You know I've often wondered, for those who are near the end of their lives is it worse to know what's going on, or worse to have no idea?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

You know I've often wondered, for those who are near the end of their lives is it worse to know what's going on, or worse to have no idea?

It's a good question. My grandma is 89 years old, and she is sharp as a tack. Still loves to drink a manhattan and poke fun at my mom and her sister. But her body is really starting to fail her, and she gets really frustrated and upset.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GMScud

It's a good question. My grandma is 89 years old, and she is sharp as a tack. Still loves to drink a manhattan and poke fun at my mom and her sister. But her body is really starting to fail her, and she gets really frustrated and upset.

One of my buddies Grandma lived to be over 100. She was still mentally with it til the end. She always said she was ready to go, all of her friends were gone and she just wanted to go. I've gotta think that would be a miserable way to live out your last years.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

You know I've often wondered, for those who are near the end of their lives is it worse to know what's going on, or worse to have no idea?

I don't know. My grandmother had it for the last 12 years of her life and you could certainly tell her frustration, but I don't know really what she must have been feeling.

I felt awful (as did the rest of my family of course). All my grandparents died when I was very young, basically a toddler. So the only one I knew was this one grandmother (died when I was in college) and she and I would write letters to each other every week (this is when people wrote letters). And we'd talk every Sunday.

For her to suddenly have no idea who I was was just devastating. It's hard enough to see someone you love sick, but then to have them not recognize you....brutal