I forgot to tell you I have Alzheimer's disease!

This hub is dedicated to my friend and all others who has an Alzheimer or demented family member or friend. God bless, you will need it...

Sunday the 24th of May I will never ever forget as long as I live. Today was supposed to be a great day for us as a family. It is Jaime’s (my youngest son) birthday.

The others and I got up at 6 to wake him and sing the happy birthday song and then give him his birthday presents. All went well and every one was happy and gawking over Jaime’s presents. As normal a scuffle broke out between the children as to who can play or see the toys first...

We had birthday cake and tea for breakfast, yeah I know it’s not good but a kid only turns 9 once in his life. Anyways, at around o’clock my phone rang, I happily handed the phone to him coz the calls would start coming in to wish him a happy birthday.

All smiley and happy he answers, I was busy cleaning all the wrapping, he called me and said my best friend’s wife is on the phone. I was a bit perplexed but took it and thought that she phoned to say that they will come over a bit later than agreed…

The shock I got form what she told me hit me like a ton of bricks.

“XXXX has Alzheimer's disease” she said. (Please visit the Alzheimer disease website, t's very informative.)

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I was stunned beyond words. Then it slowly came to me that he always said he’s going to see the doctor and I always jokingly replied not to come back insane… What was I thinking telling him that all the time!!! I thought by myself.

Worst of all is he’s only 32, funny, has an outgoing personality and loves life to the fullest.

Alzheimer’s disease is progressive in nature and worsens over time. It causes areas of the brain to shrink and is fatal. The disease has three stages: mild, moderate and severe. The resulting symptoms start with memory loss and other cognitive deficits, advancing to major personality changes and eventual loss of control over bodily functions.

Then I started seeing the symptoms he showed over the last couple of months and realized that I should have known better, but didn’t….

Funny enough though, he sent me a funny email about a test for dementia a week ago and we were joking about it and would make funny remarks about dementia. He’s really calm about it

I feel so utterly bad and sorry for him, but he just thinks it is a joke and says that soon he will forget all about shait friends like me and his mortgage and all the bad in the world.

He’s currently under medication and would hopefully become better, but as he jokingly said: “forget about me”

I asked him if I can write about his diease and copy his mail, which he agreed upon. but he said he can't remember where he got the email from, so here it is.

The email I received from XXX reads as follows below...

The 4 questions and a bonus question about dementia. You have to answer them inmediately. Don't think about it, answer all of them immediately. OK?

Let's find out just how clever you really are.

1st:

You are running a marathon. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

Answer: If you answered that you are first, wrong answer! If you overtake the 2nd person and you take that place, you are 2nd!

2nd:

If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

Still think you are clever?

3rd:

Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.

What is the name of the fifth daughter?

Answer: Nunu?

NO dummy!

Her name is Mary. Re-read the question.

4th:

Very tricky math ! Note: This must be done in your head only.

Do NOT use a pen/pencil, paper or calculator. Just brain power.

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total?.

Did you get 5000?

The correct answer is 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! You are as dumb as an ox.

Bonus question:

A mute person wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

A blind man wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?

Answer: The blind person just has to open his mouth and ask, He's not mute!