StoryCorps

Hey guys and dolls,
I just wanted to share one of the stories I read for our StoryCorps assignment. I wanted to share it because I found it to be quite fascinating and important.

The link to the story is here: http://storycorps.org/listen/robert-patterson-and-his-wife-karen/
(You may have to "copy and paste" it.)

So the story is called "I can remember things that occur in my heart much better than the things that occur in my head." This story is produced by Nadia Reiman and facilitated by Gaspar Caro and is in partnership with Alzheimer's Association California and Southland Chapter. The story was recorded in Los Angeles, California and the interviewees are Robert Patterson (RP) and Karen Patterson (KP) .  I'll give you some important parts of the story as well as touch on them a little bit with my own thoughts:

• RP has Alzheimer's disease but he still feels like he is the same person.

I find that really interesting, that he still feels like the same person. From my experience, when people are diagnosed with certain diseases or illnesses, they feel like they are different, especially when the disease/illness they have, have side effects that cause them to feel or act differently.

• KP says "memories are not who you are".

I think that this quote is important. Even if it feels like it, memories don't define you. You define you.

• RP says that with the disease he has learned to live in the moment because he cannot remember things, whether they happened days ago or minutes ago.

I like that he has learned to live in the moment, and I think that that is important for everyone to do. If you can, cherish the present moments as well as the memories, because both are important.

• KP says that "with this disease, you moved from someone that lived in your head a lot, to somebody who lives in their heart."

I think that this is probably an accurate statement for this disease, I say "probably" because I do not know anybody with this disease, nor do I know enough about this disease to say if it's completely accurate or not.

• RP says that what he remembers from his heart are things like laughter, and love. He remembers falling in love with his grandchild and looks forward to the future with him.

This took me awhile understand what he was saying..but..here is my interpretation of this. I think that to remember from the heart, is more like..getting a familiar feeling when you are with someone. For example, a familiar moment of laughter with someone who is important to you or a familiar feeling of love for a specific person. It doesn't seem like actual memories until you're in the moment. If that makes any sense.  I could be wrong. Anyone else have a thought about this?

• KP discusses how she is glad that she is the one who gets to take care of him, which RP is thankful for.

This is very sweet. I cannot imagine how hard this is for either of them.. for him going through it and for her having to watch him suffer from this disease. I also think that this shows true love and I applaud them both for their seemingly positive attitudes toward life.