by Amy Geissler, Northern Arizona Regional Director, Alzheimer’s Association
“I think that there is sometimes just a lack of understanding of how all this works after a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They’re not alone because I struggle to understand it all myself,” admits Bonny Lepore. Her husband Ron was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease earlier this year at 74.
Ron is a Vietnam War veteran and avid football fan who enjoys volunteering his time at the Prescott VA. He also loves hiking. “It gives Bonny a break. I know that she’s got to do so many things that I can’t do,” Ron says.
“I’ve always been very independent. I’ve always done it my way,” admits Ron. “It got really frustrating because Bonny’s helping me but I didn’t always know that.”
“This is a tough subject but in a committed team, when your original safety net has holes in it, you’ve got to do something,” Bonny points out. “The other guy’s got to come in there and patch it up.”
Together, Ron and Bonny are ready to tackle what’s ahead. “It doesn’t bother me. I’m not afraid of it,” Ron says. “I know what’s going to happen and I’m going to enjoy what’s left.”
Ron and Bonny live in Prescott Valley and were recently featured in a mini-documentary for the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter called, “Voices of Alzheimer’s.” View the video at youtube.com/alzdsw.
Join the fight to end Alzheimer’s and register for the Prescott Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sept. 15 at the Courthouse Plaza. Learn more at prescottalzheimerswalk.org. You can also text “ALZWALK” to 51555.
