This is my mom, Deb, about 5 months away from her passing. She was beautiful, caring, kind, and she had early onset Alzheimer's. My eyes are watering in this picture because she knew me and for a second, I had my friend back. Gosh, I miss her so much. I know that there are people all over the globe who know this journey, but there are still those who don't quite understand. That is why I do my advocacy...to create awareness and understanding for this cruel disease. The more you know, the better you can fight. The more you know, the more care we can give to those who are struggling. The more you know, the closer we can get to a cure and to finding a survivor. Feel free to share your Alzheimer's story below. If you're interested in advocacy here in GA, let me know. I can put you in touch with the right people to help you turn your anger into action. #ENDALZ #alzheimersawareness

The south is a special place. 💕

I voted! 🤘🏻

This is awesome. I remember!

I just saw on Facebook where the local weather guy is getting bullied in the comments every time he misses a forecast and it’s so sad. They’ve traumatized Glen Burns. People of the GA internet… get a grip! You’re terrorizing the weatherman!

I didn't realize that at 52, tomatoes were going to become my enemy.

Thank you @RepMcCormick for joining us in the fight to find the first survivor of Alzheimer's. Your leadership in this area is so necessary!

We stopped by @RepMcCormick office this morning with Halloween treats and a simple message: thank you. Thank you for signing on to the #ASAPAct. Thank you for seeing what we see. A doctor in the fight against Alzheimer’s changes the conversation. And he sees the vision of how AI and better technology will propel research forward faster than ever. For the first time in a long time, we have hope. Extra thank you to Lizzie Harris Orr, his Director of Outreach. Your support means everything to us advocates. Always great to see your smiling faces and talk about the possibilities. We’ll keep showing up. Together, we will get to the first survivor. 💜

Watching Game Day and there are a ton of political ads, but none of them are for GA where I live. Ohio, NY, NJ. Not that I want to see political ads at all, but weird to see ones that aren’t even targeted.

I get asked a lot whether the volunteer work I do for the Alzheimer's Association ever gets too sad. That's a tough question to answer, because it's both yes and no. Yes, there are days when talking about my mom and our loss feels like picking at a scab. I always cry when I write posts about how much I miss her (like right now) or try to define what she meant to me and so many others. Some days I sit with the silent fear that friends I've met through this work will die from Alzheimer's, or lose the people they love. And when I lose a word or my brain won't work right, I panic sometimes, because it runs in my family. And no, because of those same reasons. Talking about my mom keeps her here with me. It isn't always sad, because honestly, my mom was really fun and funny. There are so many stories to share that have nothing to do with when she was sick or that she died from Alzheimer's. And when I worry about my friends and their loved ones, or myself and my family, I'm comforted by the very work I'm doing to fight. To ensure the research gets done, that medicines and treatments get created, and that our government fights alongside us to find the first survivor. Our doctors didn't really understand what was happening until it was too late. We didn't know about all the resources. We didn't have all the treatments. We couldn't help my mom the way she deserved to be helped. But I can help ensure that others get access to all of that now. Just last week, a friend texted me that their parent had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and asked if we could talk. Building awareness by telling my story helps others feel comfortable sharing their stories with me. And in turn, I get to direct them to the right places for accurate information and support. That's precisely the reason I gave when I started volunteering in 2018. Turning that sadness, and anger, into action has far and away been the best form of grieving I could have ever imagined. So yes, it's super sad sometimes. But it's also very rewarding. And now my son can participate and heal with me and the thousands of other advocates who do this powerful work. If you're navigating a diagnosis in your family and don't know where to start, message me. Or call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 helpline: 800-272-3900. I'll point you to what I wish we'd had.

For anyone asking or curious about my husband's health... we had a very encouraging doctor's appointment yesterday. She believes the worst is mainly over and that we are ready to start testing what he can do instead of focusing on what he can't. Excited to support him as we move through the next stage of healing. Fresh air, exercise, and attention to balance/stability. I would say we've got another month and my man will be moving and grooving again! Thank you all for your support.

This is amazing news!! Thank you @RepMcCormick!