December 21, 2023 • 22 mins
Olympic figure skater and Alzheimer’s Association Celebrity Champion Mariah Bell joins Dana to talk about her late grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s and what she and her family learned as they helped care for her during her final years. Mariah shares her favorite memories of her grandma, how she still feels her presence in her day-to-day life, and why it’s so important for young people to use their platforms for positive change: “Everybody has a voice.”
Do you have a question for Dana? Email her directly at thememorywhisperer@gmail.com or visit www.thememorywhisperer.com for additional resources.
The Memory Whisperer podcast is written and produced by Dana Territo, with help from audio editor Blake Langlinais. Additional production support from Ryan Martz and Julia Weaver. Special Thanks to Michael Andrews, a person with dementia, and Innovations in Dementia, CIC for our flute music. Graphics by Xdesign.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
It started with Peggy, someone with Alzheimer's who never knew
my name and who I companion at her nursing home
residence for twenty two years. Her influence in my life
and the values I receive from growing up with grandparents
living in our home are the guiding forces in my
love and advocacy for the Alzheimer's population. I am a
(00:27):
newspaper columnist for The Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and
the author of What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer's Disease,
And now I'm launching a podcast. Hi, you're listening to
Dana Tito the Memory Whisper. Join me in these podcasts
as we engage in thoughtful conversations about Alzheimer's disease and
(00:49):
other dementias. Her favorite mato is promise me you will
always remember you are braver than you believe, smarter than
you see, and stronger than you think, which is a
quote from Winnie the Pooh. This strong woman. Mariah Bell
is my guest today on The Memory Whisper, a podcast.
(01:10):
She is a champion Olympic figure skater, having participated in
the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in twenty twenty two,
Mariah became an Alzheimer's Association Champion and participated in the
Walk to End Alzheimer's for the first time in twenty
twenty one. There, she shared the story of her grandmother,
who had Alzheimer's disease. Her grandmother was a nurse and
(01:32):
loved Minnie Mouse and Betty Boop, and was known to
be pretty feisty. Mariah says her grandmother's career as a
nurse was a perfect fit for her warmth and positivity,
but she also recalls her grandmother telling stories about challenging
moments at work and that she could be tough when
she needed to stand up for herself. Mariah feels she
inherited her grandmother's characteristics, especially in her confidence and the
(01:55):
tenacity and strength Mariah has used in her competitions and
still today in all her endeavors. Mariah supports the Alzheimer's
Association through the hashtag end Alzheimer's campaign. At the twenty
twenty one walk, Mariah said of her experience, I got
to stand up and share a little bit about my grandma,
and that was so awesome. She says. It gives me
(02:18):
so much hope to see the donations, the people spreading
the word, and the research that being done. It just
means a lot to me to do everything I can.
I'm so excited to have Mariah here today as she
shares her memories of her grandmother and her advocacy for
those affected by Alzheimer's disease. I want to start out.
I read where your favorite quote was from Winnie the Pooh,
(02:41):
and it says, promise me you will always remember you
are braver than you believe, smarter than you seem, and
stronger than you think. What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, first of all, thank you, I'm so excited to
be here chatting with you today. But yeah, I mean
I think that there's a lot of times, at least
in my skating and then now also in my life,
where I've realized that we just kind of have to
trust yourself. And I think that quote really does that.
I think we oftentimes forget that we are as strong,
(03:14):
or as smart, or as capable as we are.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Tell me about your journey with your grandmother or granny
that you call her.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, so, well, my family lost our granny, my dad's mother,
in twenty sixteen to Alzheimer's, so she had it for
she didn't have it for very long before she passed.
It was pretty progressive. But yeah, I mean she lived
(03:43):
in Denver and we lived in Colorado, and we would
see her every weekend, her and my grandpa. And then
once she got ill, she moved nearer to my aunt
so she could really help care for her. And she
was put into like a memory care facility, and then
she passed away after being there for maybe about a year.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
What was your greatest blessing in the journey with your granny?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
When you think of a grandmother, she really fulfilled that role.
It was like, you know, we made cookies on during holidays,
at Christmas time. I remember we would go to her house,
like I would go to her house. Like I mentioned,
we lived in the same state, very close, like in
like forty five minute drive, so we would go to
my grandparents house often, and it was like every time
(04:34):
we were there, she wanted to take us to my
sister and I are any of the grandkids to like
like Walmart or Target, and we could you know, take home.
So she was really just when you think of like
a warm, carrying grandmother, that was who she was. And
so I really feel like I got to have that experience.
(04:56):
I mean, with my mom's parents, it's the same, very
very fortunate. But you know, I look back and I'm
just so grateful for that from her, for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Sure did you have any particular challenge on that journey
with your granny through Alzheimer's.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Well, it was kind of sad because once she got
more and more ill, like my parents would go visit her,
so she was moved to Chicago to be near my aunt,
and so it was like, you know, I think the
grandkids really didn't see her much, and I think that
was kind of on purpose, because she was not doing
well and she really didn't remember much of anything. It
(05:38):
was like, you know, we would FaceTime, so I was
still talking to her, but it was so tough to
see because she you could tell there was there wasn't
much behind her her as a person. She was really
became a shell. And so I actually never saw her
in the last year. I never physically saw her, and
(05:58):
I was really because my parents didn't want me to.
But I look back and I'm you know, it's sad
to think that I didn't even realize the last time
that I said bye to her, that would be the
last time that I saw her, So, you know, but
I guess in a way that's kind of a good
thing because it was less Uh, it was just you know,
(06:19):
it was I got to be in the moment with
her in those things. Sure ahead, but I think that
was really the toughest thing. I mean, obviously, the disease
itself is awful. It's just awful. It takes away completely
takes away a person. But I I remember being feeling
(06:41):
sad that I couldn't go see her. I didn't, you know,
but it was again my parents.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
But you were thankful for the blessings that you had
with her.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, Yes, I love reading the story that about Granny
love cats and she'd feeds strays in the neighborhood. And
then after she died, you had a stray cat approach
you and follow you to the ocean. Was that the story?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yes, I was living in California. I had just moved
right after she passed away, Like we went to the funeral,
and then I moved to California for training and I
was living out there and she would feed all the
feral cats in her neighborhood, so she was kind of
like a crazy cat lady all. But that's just the
heart that she had. She wanted to help every living thing,
(07:28):
and she had a really soft soft spot for animals especially.
But yeah, so anytime the grandkids always say, anytime we
see cats, we feel like that's her. And so I
remember I lived kind of in a second story, a
little little tiny apartment kind of Complexman, it was only
(07:48):
like six apartment complexes, and so I was in the
back and it was like there were the garages and
then it was like kind of my area, and then
you had to walk past another apartment building to get
to like the main street. And so I was gonna
head out because being lived very near. I lived really
near like a fun like it was called Second Street.
(08:08):
I had all these fun stores and stuff, and so
I was gonna walk down there, and then right past
that is the beach. So I remember walking out of
my apartment and this black cat was just sitting at
the bottom of the stairs staring at me, and I
was like, I feel like that's Granny, Like I just
I don't know, I just it's just her chicking at me.
And then when I went to the beach that day,
(08:30):
that cat followed me all the way, like right at
my ankles, and I thought, okay, this is Granny just
being like you know what, I'm okay, but I'm watching
over you and I know that you're in California, and
I still I still have these I.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Still have moments, those magical moments where you feel her presence.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah. I still see lots of cats, even butterflies, like
I don't know why, I feel like butterflies are her too.
And actually before all big events, like big competitions, I
would see yellow butterflies. Okay, that's just her also being
like you got it.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Didn't you. Wasn't it one before one of your competitions
when you dance to Roxy from Chicago, you said something
to your grandma.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Before every competition, I'd just say like a little like
I'd find a quiet place in there and I just
like have a little quick conversation with her, like okay,
you need your help, like we got to do this.
But it was it was every competition. Yeah, I could
talk to her before I skated, like, you know, come on,
I need your help.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
But she would be cheerleader now absolutely, yes, yes. How
did you make the decision to advocate for the Alzheimer's
population and join the Alzheimer's Association, in Alzheimer's campaign.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
As a cause itself, it's really powerful. You know, people
are struggling with it and there's no cure for it,
and that's just awful. So anyway, we should be doing
what we can to help, you know, find that cure.
But but when you see it happened to a loved
one firsthand, obviously, you know you're a little bit more
maybe impacted by it. And so I just thought, you know,
(10:18):
I really wanted my grandmother's legacy to live on, and
I felt like I kind of had a little bit
of a platform to do that with skating, and so
I thought, you know, if there's anything that I really
want to advocate for, I mean, there's tons of things
to advocate for, but I wanted to do something that
was so near and dear to my heart, and so going.
(10:40):
I love participating in the walks. I'm doing one this
this Saturday here in Dallas where I live. Yeah, and
so it's like it's a family affair, you know, all
the family gets together and walks and it's amazing because
you know, I remember doing it last year and with
Alzheimer's walks, you get a flower for every a different
(11:02):
color for you know what you've experienced. So purple was
a lost loved one, or yellow as you know you're caring,
I think for somebody, and then blue is you have
Alzheimer's currently. And I just remember last year I gave
a little speech at the walk when it started, but
right before I did, a family came up and the
gentleman had a blue flower, and I just thought, oh
(11:24):
my gosh, like how crazy that was and how inspiring
that was. But you know, he's participating in a walk
that he has a disease for that there is no cure.
So you know, we are here and we're healthy, and
we're walking for this. I mean we we absolutely should
because we are able to because here he is with
(11:46):
living with the disease, and he's there supporting and walking.
So I just thought that powerful.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
What do you say to young people about getting involved
in movements like Alzheimer's disease.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Well, I think it's so important. I mean, you know,
we're the it's like the well not me necessarily, but
we have this next way, this next generation of business people,
of teachers, of lawyers, of you know whatever, and so
it's important that we find something that we're passionate about.
Like you know, there's so many great causes to want
(12:18):
to be a part of and to want to help
advocate for, and so you know, it's our responsibility really,
I think, you know, like I said, again, we're so
fortunate to be in good health and to have the
opportunity to go do these things and advocate for these
different causes. So I think that's really really important. I
(12:43):
think it's really something that it's not like, oh, if
you can, you should. I think you absolutely should. You know,
there's no reason not to.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
It's a stewardship kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yeah, we're here on earth to help others.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
So yeah, absolutely, you know I completely agree with that.
And yeah, you know it was easy for me to
pick this cause since, like I said, it was so
near and dear to my heart.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Have people in the skating community has it been a
positive thing for you? Have they gotten behind you and
supported you?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yeah? Absolutely. In fact, my coach, one of my coaches,
Adam Rapon, he was a skater himself. He was an Olympian.
He's now a very well known just kind of name
kind of sort of in Hollywood, and so he his
grandmother also passed away from Alzheimer's, and so you get
(13:44):
connected with people that you maybe don't even realize that
you have this in common with. Like I was working
with him and I didn't know until this year that
his grandmother also passed away. So we did the Alzheimer's
like celebrity shoot in LA to get there, and that
was really cool. But you know, you don't realize how
(14:04):
many people share in an experience, and so talking about it,
and you know, being an advocate for it, you get
connected with people that have have experienced the same or
very similar things. And actually within skating, there are a
lot of people that I've really connected with who unfortunately
(14:25):
have had a similar experience or had, you know, a
similar story with this particular disease.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Someone once said, a speaker that I listened to, said
that Alzheimer's is contagious, and you never think about it
as a contagious disease, but he meant that it affects
so many people when one person is diagnosed with it,
so you know, it doesn't just affect that person, it
affects full family and friends and networks.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, I mean that was the biggest thing. It was
awful to watch my grandmother go through it, but to
see how it affected my dad and my mom obviously too.
But and then my dad's siblings and you know, their
significant others. It was really tough. It was on those adults,
(15:14):
you know, especially like my aunt, you know, my dad's sister.
I think she, you know, really wanted my grandmother to
be close to her, and for a while she lived
in my aunt's house before she was put into memory care.
It's a lot of work, but it's work that obviously,
being a daughter, you want to it was really tough,
(15:37):
and you know, and again it was obviously the disease
was like you mentioned, you know, with my grandmother, but
it really does. It affects everybody that they're close to.
It affected the grandchildren. You know, you lose this person
before they've left earth. Really how it is, and it's
hard to witness that.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
We know now that the majority of those effective by
Alzheimer's are women, and also they're a majority of caregivers
are women. So does your mother and your aunt think
about that too, about the lineage?
Speaker 2 (16:12):
I think absolutely, yeah, I mean I think more probably
my aunt, but you know, and that's also another really
tough thing, you know, and actually It's very interesting you
mentioned that because my grandmother, knowing that her mother had it.
My granny, knowing that her mother had it, was always
very aware and I think knew before she actually had it.
(16:35):
She just knew, she knew that it was that it
was going to happen, and so before she was actually diagnosed,
she was really paranoid about it. Also hard to watch,
and sure enough that is what ended up happening.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
So how do you think your message will motivate others,
especially you know, around your age, to get involved with
the Alzheimer's cause.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I just hope that, you know, I think a lot
of times it's like at least okay. So within my
own sport, it was like, you know, there was this
sort of age limit. I mean, there isn't, but it
was like most people who are you know, we're competing
at my level, were, you know, eighteen nineteen, maybe twenty
Well I'm twenty.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Six, you're old exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
It don't matter though my age was not a factor
at all whatsoever. And as I started answering questions in
that way and really going about my skating in that way,
that was really how people I think also accepted it.
You know, well, it doesn't matter. And I hope that
within my skating I can show that that is the truth,
(17:52):
Like you don't have to be a certain age to
do anything. I also hope that I can bring that
into different causes like this. Sometimes I think we want
to hold off in do things when we're older, but
be young. You can be younger than I am, you
can be way younger than I am and it still
be really big strong advocates for things like this. You know,
we don't have to. I know I'm an adult now,
(18:13):
but it's like, oh we Sometimes it's like those were
that that cause or being a part of whatever seems
like the responsibility of the adults. But that's the case.
You know, everybody who you know has a desire to
be involved in something or has some kind of relationship
to a cause and has a voice. Everybody's got a voice,
(18:34):
you know, they should really use it and try and
do something good with it and positive with it. And
so I hope that people at my age and younger
understand that they can make a huge impact in things
like this as well.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Well. As you continue to advocate for end Alzheimer's. What
is one pearl of wisdom you've learned, or you would
like to share with others, either about your journey with
your grandmother, about the disease, or about being a volunteer.
What would you share with our listeners.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Well, for people who don't understand Alzheimer's or I mean,
everybody can understand what it is, but I really do
feel that it is something. It's just awful because you
live this, you know, incredible life, and then at the end,
you don't get to enjoy it. You lose everything, you
(19:28):
lose your memory of it, you lose your connection with people.
And I think that you know, obviously everybody understands how
awful it is, but I really want people to understand
the effect that it has. Obviously those people, but like
we mentioned before, they're loved ones. There's nothing more than
(19:50):
we can do right now except be caregivers for those people, obviously,
and then do our part to try and raise awareness,
you know, come up with different or you know, I
guess it's not necessarily our responsibility to come up with
the cures, but to raise awareness. You know. The other
thing is like, you know, there are still moments that
you can have. Even when my grandmother was very ill,
(20:14):
I don't know if she was actually you know, aware,
but it was like when I would FaceTime her, she
would smile or whatever, and you have those moments where
you can still it's almost more heartbreaking because you can
still see what that person was, right, the.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Person behind the disease. That's what we can look at.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yes, exactly. So I love that.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
You're saying that because even though it's such an awful disease,
as you say, but your grandmother smile was still there,
so you remember her in her personhood, which is so important.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Yes, yes, you know, I want people to know that,
you know, these people are obviously worth fighting for and
caring for, and you know, I really do believe. I mean,
there's already been some big findings in the last year
within research, and so I hope that that can continue.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
You know, thank you. I am just so amazed at
your you know, your promise, and your loyalty and your
dedication to this cause and honor of your grandmother. She
would be so proud of you, I know, and I
know as you advocate, she's on your shoulder, that butterflies
on your shoulder all the time. So I so appreciate
(21:24):
you being here today. Any last comments, No.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Just thank you so much for having me on. Like,
you know something that I'm very passionate about obviously, so
I'm always always jump at the chance to the chat
about it, and so just thank you so much for
having me. It really means a lot.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Well that's it for us today, Thank you for listening.
The Memory Whisper is a production of iHeartRadio and the
Seneca Women Podcast Network. It's produced by Me, Dana Tiredo,
and honor of Peggy and all those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
I offer a special thanks to my audio editor, Blake Longelonee,
and to Michael Andrews, a person with dementia, who gave
(22:07):
me permission to use his beautiful flute music for this podcast.
For more information or to reach me directly, head on
over to my website, The Memory Whisper dot com. And
for those struggling with a diagnosis, remember my motto, the
more you know, the better it'll go. Blessings,
It started with Peggy, someone with Alzheimer's who never knew
my name and who I companion at her nursing home
residence for twenty two years. Her influence in my life
and the values I receive from growing up with grandparents
living in our home are the guiding forces in my
love and advocacy for the Alzheimer's population. I am a
(00:27):
newspaper columnist for The Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and
the author of What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer's Disease,
And now I'm launching a podcast. Hi, you're listening to
Dana Tito the Memory Whisper. Join me in these podcasts
as we engage in thoughtful conversations about Alzheimer's disease and
(00:49):
other dementias. Her favorite mato is promise me you will
always remember you are braver than you believe, smarter than
you see, and stronger than you think, which is a
quote from Winnie the Pooh. This strong woman. Mariah Bell
is my guest today on The Memory Whisper, a podcast.
(01:10):
She is a champion Olympic figure skater, having participated in
the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in twenty twenty two,
Mariah became an Alzheimer's Association Champion and participated in the
Walk to End Alzheimer's for the first time in twenty
twenty one. There, she shared the story of her grandmother,
who had Alzheimer's disease. Her grandmother was a nurse and
(01:32):
loved Minnie Mouse and Betty Boop, and was known to
be pretty feisty. Mariah says her grandmother's career as a
nurse was a perfect fit for her warmth and positivity,
but she also recalls her grandmother telling stories about challenging
moments at work and that she could be tough when
she needed to stand up for herself. Mariah feels she
inherited her grandmother's characteristics, especially in her confidence and the
(01:55):
tenacity and strength Mariah has used in her competitions and
still today in all her endeavors. Mariah supports the Alzheimer's
Association through the hashtag end Alzheimer's campaign. At the twenty
twenty one walk, Mariah said of her experience, I got
to stand up and share a little bit about my grandma,
and that was so awesome. She says. It gives me
(02:18):
so much hope to see the donations, the people spreading
the word, and the research that being done. It just
means a lot to me to do everything I can.
I'm so excited to have Mariah here today as she
shares her memories of her grandmother and her advocacy for
those affected by Alzheimer's disease. I want to start out.
I read where your favorite quote was from Winnie the Pooh,
(02:41):
and it says, promise me you will always remember you
are braver than you believe, smarter than you seem, and
stronger than you think. What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, first of all, thank you, I'm so excited to
be here chatting with you today. But yeah, I mean
I think that there's a lot of times, at least
in my skating and then now also in my life,
where I've realized that we just kind of have to
trust yourself. And I think that quote really does that.
I think we oftentimes forget that we are as strong,
(03:14):
or as smart, or as capable as we are.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Tell me about your journey with your grandmother or granny
that you call her.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, so, well, my family lost our granny, my dad's mother,
in twenty sixteen to Alzheimer's, so she had it for
she didn't have it for very long before she passed.
It was pretty progressive. But yeah, I mean she lived
(03:43):
in Denver and we lived in Colorado, and we would
see her every weekend, her and my grandpa. And then
once she got ill, she moved nearer to my aunt
so she could really help care for her. And she
was put into like a memory care facility, and then
she passed away after being there for maybe about a year.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
What was your greatest blessing in the journey with your granny?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
When you think of a grandmother, she really fulfilled that role.
It was like, you know, we made cookies on during holidays,
at Christmas time. I remember we would go to her house,
like I would go to her house. Like I mentioned,
we lived in the same state, very close, like in
like forty five minute drive, so we would go to
my grandparents house often, and it was like every time
(04:34):
we were there, she wanted to take us to my
sister and I are any of the grandkids to like
like Walmart or Target, and we could you know, take home.
So she was really just when you think of like
a warm, carrying grandmother, that was who she was. And
so I really feel like I got to have that experience.
(04:56):
I mean, with my mom's parents, it's the same, very
very fortunate. But you know, I look back and I'm
just so grateful for that from her, for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Sure did you have any particular challenge on that journey
with your granny through Alzheimer's.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Well, it was kind of sad because once she got
more and more ill, like my parents would go visit her,
so she was moved to Chicago to be near my aunt,
and so it was like, you know, I think the
grandkids really didn't see her much, and I think that
was kind of on purpose, because she was not doing
well and she really didn't remember much of anything. It
(05:38):
was like, you know, we would FaceTime, so I was
still talking to her, but it was so tough to
see because she you could tell there was there wasn't
much behind her her as a person. She was really
became a shell. And so I actually never saw her
in the last year. I never physically saw her, and
(05:58):
I was really because my parents didn't want me to.
But I look back and I'm you know, it's sad
to think that I didn't even realize the last time
that I said bye to her, that would be the
last time that I saw her, So, you know, but
I guess in a way that's kind of a good
thing because it was less Uh, it was just you know,
(06:19):
it was I got to be in the moment with
her in those things. Sure ahead, but I think that
was really the toughest thing. I mean, obviously, the disease
itself is awful. It's just awful. It takes away completely
takes away a person. But I I remember being feeling
(06:41):
sad that I couldn't go see her. I didn't, you know,
but it was again my parents.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
But you were thankful for the blessings that you had
with her.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, Yes, I love reading the story that about Granny
love cats and she'd feeds strays in the neighborhood. And
then after she died, you had a stray cat approach
you and follow you to the ocean. Was that the story?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yes, I was living in California. I had just moved
right after she passed away, Like we went to the funeral,
and then I moved to California for training and I
was living out there and she would feed all the
feral cats in her neighborhood, so she was kind of
like a crazy cat lady all. But that's just the
heart that she had. She wanted to help every living thing,
(07:28):
and she had a really soft soft spot for animals especially.
But yeah, so anytime the grandkids always say, anytime we
see cats, we feel like that's her. And so I
remember I lived kind of in a second story, a
little little tiny apartment kind of Complexman, it was only
(07:48):
like six apartment complexes, and so I was in the
back and it was like there were the garages and
then it was like kind of my area, and then
you had to walk past another apartment building to get
to like the main street. And so I was gonna
head out because being lived very near. I lived really
near like a fun like it was called Second Street.
(08:08):
I had all these fun stores and stuff, and so
I was gonna walk down there, and then right past
that is the beach. So I remember walking out of
my apartment and this black cat was just sitting at
the bottom of the stairs staring at me, and I
was like, I feel like that's Granny, Like I just
I don't know, I just it's just her chicking at me.
And then when I went to the beach that day,
(08:30):
that cat followed me all the way, like right at
my ankles, and I thought, okay, this is Granny just
being like you know what, I'm okay, but I'm watching
over you and I know that you're in California, and
I still I still have these I.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Still have moments, those magical moments where you feel her presence.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah. I still see lots of cats, even butterflies, like
I don't know why, I feel like butterflies are her too.
And actually before all big events, like big competitions, I
would see yellow butterflies. Okay, that's just her also being
like you got it.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Didn't you. Wasn't it one before one of your competitions
when you dance to Roxy from Chicago, you said something
to your grandma.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Before every competition, I'd just say like a little like
I'd find a quiet place in there and I just
like have a little quick conversation with her, like okay,
you need your help, like we got to do this.
But it was it was every competition. Yeah, I could
talk to her before I skated, like, you know, come on,
I need your help.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
But she would be cheerleader now absolutely, yes, yes. How
did you make the decision to advocate for the Alzheimer's
population and join the Alzheimer's Association, in Alzheimer's campaign.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
As a cause itself, it's really powerful. You know, people
are struggling with it and there's no cure for it,
and that's just awful. So anyway, we should be doing
what we can to help, you know, find that cure.
But but when you see it happened to a loved
one firsthand, obviously, you know you're a little bit more
maybe impacted by it. And so I just thought, you know,
(10:18):
I really wanted my grandmother's legacy to live on, and
I felt like I kind of had a little bit
of a platform to do that with skating, and so
I thought, you know, if there's anything that I really
want to advocate for, I mean, there's tons of things
to advocate for, but I wanted to do something that
was so near and dear to my heart, and so going.
(10:40):
I love participating in the walks. I'm doing one this
this Saturday here in Dallas where I live. Yeah, and
so it's like it's a family affair, you know, all
the family gets together and walks and it's amazing because
you know, I remember doing it last year and with
Alzheimer's walks, you get a flower for every a different
(11:02):
color for you know what you've experienced. So purple was
a lost loved one, or yellow as you know you're caring,
I think for somebody, and then blue is you have
Alzheimer's currently. And I just remember last year I gave
a little speech at the walk when it started, but
right before I did, a family came up and the
gentleman had a blue flower, and I just thought, oh
(11:24):
my gosh, like how crazy that was and how inspiring
that was. But you know, he's participating in a walk
that he has a disease for that there is no cure.
So you know, we are here and we're healthy, and
we're walking for this. I mean we we absolutely should
because we are able to because here he is with
(11:46):
living with the disease, and he's there supporting and walking.
So I just thought that powerful.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
What do you say to young people about getting involved
in movements like Alzheimer's disease.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Well, I think it's so important. I mean, you know,
we're the it's like the well not me necessarily, but
we have this next way, this next generation of business people,
of teachers, of lawyers, of you know whatever, and so
it's important that we find something that we're passionate about.
Like you know, there's so many great causes to want
(12:18):
to be a part of and to want to help
advocate for, and so you know, it's our responsibility really,
I think, you know, like I said, again, we're so
fortunate to be in good health and to have the
opportunity to go do these things and advocate for these
different causes. So I think that's really really important. I
(12:43):
think it's really something that it's not like, oh, if
you can, you should. I think you absolutely should. You know,
there's no reason not to.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
It's a stewardship kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yeah, we're here on earth to help others.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
So yeah, absolutely, you know I completely agree with that.
And yeah, you know it was easy for me to
pick this cause since, like I said, it was so
near and dear to my heart.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Have people in the skating community has it been a
positive thing for you? Have they gotten behind you and
supported you?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yeah? Absolutely. In fact, my coach, one of my coaches,
Adam Rapon, he was a skater himself. He was an Olympian.
He's now a very well known just kind of name
kind of sort of in Hollywood, and so he his
grandmother also passed away from Alzheimer's, and so you get
(13:44):
connected with people that you maybe don't even realize that
you have this in common with. Like I was working
with him and I didn't know until this year that
his grandmother also passed away. So we did the Alzheimer's
like celebrity shoot in LA to get there, and that
was really cool. But you know, you don't realize how
(14:04):
many people share in an experience, and so talking about it,
and you know, being an advocate for it, you get
connected with people that have have experienced the same or
very similar things. And actually within skating, there are a
lot of people that I've really connected with who unfortunately
(14:25):
have had a similar experience or had, you know, a
similar story with this particular disease.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Someone once said, a speaker that I listened to, said
that Alzheimer's is contagious, and you never think about it
as a contagious disease, but he meant that it affects
so many people when one person is diagnosed with it,
so you know, it doesn't just affect that person, it
affects full family and friends and networks.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, I mean that was the biggest thing. It was
awful to watch my grandmother go through it, but to
see how it affected my dad and my mom obviously too.
But and then my dad's siblings and you know, their
significant others. It was really tough. It was on those adults,
(15:14):
you know, especially like my aunt, you know, my dad's sister.
I think she, you know, really wanted my grandmother to
be close to her, and for a while she lived
in my aunt's house before she was put into memory care.
It's a lot of work, but it's work that obviously,
being a daughter, you want to it was really tough,
(15:37):
and you know, and again it was obviously the disease
was like you mentioned, you know, with my grandmother, but
it really does. It affects everybody that they're close to.
It affected the grandchildren. You know, you lose this person
before they've left earth. Really how it is, and it's
hard to witness that.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
We know now that the majority of those effective by
Alzheimer's are women, and also they're a majority of caregivers
are women. So does your mother and your aunt think
about that too, about the lineage?
Speaker 2 (16:12):
I think absolutely, yeah, I mean I think more probably
my aunt, but you know, and that's also another really
tough thing, you know, and actually It's very interesting you
mentioned that because my grandmother, knowing that her mother had it.
My granny, knowing that her mother had it, was always
very aware and I think knew before she actually had it.
(16:35):
She just knew, she knew that it was that it
was going to happen, and so before she was actually diagnosed,
she was really paranoid about it. Also hard to watch,
and sure enough that is what ended up happening.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
So how do you think your message will motivate others,
especially you know, around your age, to get involved with
the Alzheimer's cause.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
I just hope that, you know, I think a lot
of times it's like at least okay. So within my
own sport, it was like, you know, there was this
sort of age limit. I mean, there isn't, but it
was like most people who are you know, we're competing
at my level, were, you know, eighteen nineteen, maybe twenty
Well I'm twenty.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Six, you're old exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
It don't matter though my age was not a factor
at all whatsoever. And as I started answering questions in
that way and really going about my skating in that way,
that was really how people I think also accepted it.
You know, well, it doesn't matter. And I hope that
within my skating I can show that that is the truth,
(17:52):
Like you don't have to be a certain age to
do anything. I also hope that I can bring that
into different causes like this. Sometimes I think we want
to hold off in do things when we're older, but
be young. You can be younger than I am, you
can be way younger than I am and it still
be really big strong advocates for things like this. You know,
we don't have to. I know I'm an adult now,
(18:13):
but it's like, oh we Sometimes it's like those were
that that cause or being a part of whatever seems
like the responsibility of the adults. But that's the case.
You know, everybody who you know has a desire to
be involved in something or has some kind of relationship
to a cause and has a voice. Everybody's got a voice,
(18:34):
you know, they should really use it and try and
do something good with it and positive with it. And
so I hope that people at my age and younger
understand that they can make a huge impact in things
like this as well.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Well. As you continue to advocate for end Alzheimer's. What
is one pearl of wisdom you've learned, or you would
like to share with others, either about your journey with
your grandmother, about the disease, or about being a volunteer.
What would you share with our listeners.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Well, for people who don't understand Alzheimer's or I mean,
everybody can understand what it is, but I really do
feel that it is something. It's just awful because you
live this, you know, incredible life, and then at the end,
you don't get to enjoy it. You lose everything, you
(19:28):
lose your memory of it, you lose your connection with people.
And I think that you know, obviously everybody understands how
awful it is, but I really want people to understand
the effect that it has. Obviously those people, but like
we mentioned before, they're loved ones. There's nothing more than
(19:50):
we can do right now except be caregivers for those people, obviously,
and then do our part to try and raise awareness,
you know, come up with different or you know, I
guess it's not necessarily our responsibility to come up with
the cures, but to raise awareness. You know. The other
thing is like, you know, there are still moments that
you can have. Even when my grandmother was very ill,
(20:14):
I don't know if she was actually you know, aware,
but it was like when I would FaceTime her, she
would smile or whatever, and you have those moments where
you can still it's almost more heartbreaking because you can
still see what that person was, right, the.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Person behind the disease. That's what we can look at.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yes, exactly. So I love that.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
You're saying that because even though it's such an awful disease,
as you say, but your grandmother smile was still there,
so you remember her in her personhood, which is so important.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Yes, yes, you know, I want people to know that,
you know, these people are obviously worth fighting for and
caring for, and you know, I really do believe. I mean,
there's already been some big findings in the last year
within research, and so I hope that that can continue.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
You know, thank you. I am just so amazed at
your you know, your promise, and your loyalty and your
dedication to this cause and honor of your grandmother. She
would be so proud of you, I know, and I
know as you advocate, she's on your shoulder, that butterflies
on your shoulder all the time. So I so appreciate
(21:24):
you being here today. Any last comments, No.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Just thank you so much for having me on. Like,
you know something that I'm very passionate about obviously, so
I'm always always jump at the chance to the chat
about it, and so just thank you so much for
having me. It really means a lot.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Well that's it for us today, Thank you for listening.
The Memory Whisper is a production of iHeartRadio and the
Seneca Women Podcast Network. It's produced by Me, Dana Tiredo,
and honor of Peggy and all those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
I offer a special thanks to my audio editor, Blake Longelonee,
and to Michael Andrews, a person with dementia, who gave
(22:07):
me permission to use his beautiful flute music for this podcast.
For more information or to reach me directly, head on
over to my website, The Memory Whisper dot com. And
for those struggling with a diagnosis, remember my motto, the
more you know, the better it'll go. Blessings,
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