Meet my Dad, Charles Geren Roberts.
He loved God, he loved his family, and he loved life.
But that life was robbed of him after being officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2013. We had no idea what we were getting into, what the future would hold, or where this journey would take us. You would think we would have had some idea of what to expect as my Dad’s dad and his dad each had suffered from the disease, three generations of first born Roberts males each diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but we did not. What we would soon learn is that my dad was definitely not the norm, which probably isn’t shocking to anyone that knew him, but is there really a norm with Alzheimer’s?
They say hind sight is 20/20. So many what if’s. What if he had eaten better? What if he had kept a regular sleep schedule? What if he had exercised more? What if he hadn’t been in a high stress job? What if he had gone to the doctor sooner? What if he hadn’t been so stinkin’ stubborn?! These are just a few of the initial questions we would ask, but as the months would progress, we would begin to develop more questions that I hope to get into with this blog in the hopes that we can help any other families out there navigating this awful disease.
I wish my Dad could have been the first survivor of Alzheimer’s, but sadly that would not be the case.
He fought.
He fought hard.
He was always hopeful that he was going to win, that he’d beat this disease, and now, since he cannot, I will continue that fight for him.
I hope you will join me as we Navigate Alzheimer’s.
Beautiful Heather! I’m positive your dad has his hand over yours as you write or type this story. Good for you! May God bless you on this new journey. xoxo
Thank you so much. It’s been very therapeutic for me to do this and I can’t wait to share more of his story.Xo
I think you are amazing to do this, I know how hard it is to live through this with your family. My Mother and Father in Law had this disease and I too, am hoping for a cure for my children and their children.
You are so much fun to watch and learn from, you have God in your heart and you show it.
Thank you again and I will read everything !
Bless your heart, Barb. Thank you.
Your dad was so so kind generous and always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed anything. He was my financial advisor and friend. I also cut his hair for several years. I knew all about you from him. He was so proud of his family. He could make everyone around him laugh. I use to always have to call him as he was never on time always running behind. Myself I will miss his great smile, and his warm heart.
My Dad running late??? Never! LoL! He had an amazing smile. I miss it everyday. I look forward to sharing more of his story. Thank you so much for your kind words, they bring a (happy) tear to my eye.
What an awesome start Heather! I remember just how kind Geren was when I moved to Gifford in sixth grade; and really cute! Can’t wait to follow your writings, your dad would be so proud that what you are doing may help others!!
He was cute wasn’t he?! That was the one thing everyone that met him at the nursing home or hospital would comment on, just how good looking he was! My only hope is that I can help one other family out there and make him look down and smile on me and this work. Thanks for your support! xoxo
May God bless you and you recount this journey. I know you miss him so much, and that maybe this will help you toward some resolution. The great thing is you get to be with him through eternity.
I miss him everyday. May the Good Lord come quickly. xoxo
This is awesome,Heather! I can’t wait to read more. What a wonderful tribute to your Dad! Having both my grandmothers die from this horrible disease it scares me to death for the rest of my family and myself. I wish they could find a cure!
It’s a very scary disease! One I wouldn’t wish on a single soul, but God is in control. Thank you so much for checking out the blog!
So wonderful that you are doing this for others! I’ve not met you, but I will always treasure having attended high school with both your Dad and Mom. Geren was loved by all, and oh, what a great basketball player. Linda was a friend and classmate, and Susan, oh so pretty! And your Mom, of course, so smart. My memories growing up with the entire Roberts family will remain with me always. As I viewed 60 Minutes last night airing a piece on a hopeful advance in this terrible disease, I thought of Geren, and all of you. I wish you all well in your healing journey and look forward to reading more about your life with Dad. Take care. Rhonda Smock Taylor
Thank you so much, Rhonda! My family is amazing. One day they will find a cure!
Heather, this is a great tribute to your Dad . I can see how it will be an inspiration to other families and their journeys thru the world of Alzheimers. I know this is difficult but I also know that you will be able to reach out and connect with many who are now traveling this path. May God bless.
That’s my goal!! Thank you so much!
I remember him from grade school as we were always in alphabetical order, Dana Reynolds , Geren Roberts and then me Dolly Schenck. He always smiled and was good at thinking of mischief . His mom was my senior English teacher and his grandmother taught us in grade school.
Deep roots in the community! I find it hard to believe though that he ever caused mischief! LOL!
This is such an amazing thing you are doing Heather. For those of us who are living with someone close to us with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, the ability to know we are not walking the road alone is very comforting. It is so hard to watch your loved one regress and become someone you don’t recognize anymore. Sometimes I feel like I have now become the parent instead of the child. Geren was such an amazing friend. I will always remember his smile and his contagious laugh. Thank you Heather!
It’s sad that they don’t recognize us anymore as well. It’s an awful disease and prayerfully one day we will find a cure! Love you!
Heather your blog has touched my heart. I knew Geren when we were kids and then got to know him again when he and your Mom got married. When Dwaine and I divorced your grandparents and your parents continued to make me feel like family. I was so sad to hear that Geren was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I lost my Aunt Mary to it just a few years ago. Working with older patients I watched Alzheimer’s slowly steal identities and break hearts. I love that you pay tribute to your father by telling his story. I feel God and your Dad are smiling down on you now. Your words can keep him alive for you and your family. Your children and your nieces and nephews will come to know him through you. You are an amazing young woman and I am proud to call you family.
Thank you so much!! Just want to make him proud.
Heather, I’m so sorry you, your dad and your family had to take this terrible journey. My mom has had it for 14 years – it has been heartbreaking. And to think your dad was younger than me is even more sad – he was taken from you way too soon. I think you will find this blog very therapeutic and it will be enlightening for all who read it. God bless you and your dad!
It has already been very therapeutic for me, and I look forward to sharing his story. He was a great guy and I miss him so much.
Hi Heather, my dad passes away from this horrible dease 9/21/2016, it has horrifing to watch such a strong man die a day at a time!
His granddaughter, my daughter recently moved to Arizona and works for Banner Heath systems, thru this connection we first heard about an ongoing study at Banner Health…….it was featured on 60 minutes just this last sunday, maybe……there is hope, check it out
I’ve heard about that study! I pray they are on to something that can help put an end to this awful disease. Thanks for sharing!
Heather I have read and enjoyed your story . Sad but you are bringing back so many great memories . I went to high school with your grandparents. Your grandfather was a nephew of my husband’s aunt Mildred & uncle Charles Creighton. We were always close to them as family stayed close back then. They would hold a weiner roast on their farm every fall for all families on both sides. Such fun. Your grandad always came to see aunt Mildred when she was in NH for 11yrs. Letters always filled with news, family happenings & wit! She enjoyed them so much. I always knew your dad through this journey . Aunt Mildred had your dad for some of her finances for awhile therefore I got to work with him. Such a pleasure. She and Uncle Chuck thought a lot of him as well as all your family. They talked of them fondly. They had no kids but all neices & nephews were treated as theirs as your grandmother will attest to I’m certain. I have rambled on a bit but some many memories to share. I wanted to let you know your dad carried on the same great legency. He would be proud to know you are doing this story. Your writing comes naturally from your grandfather. I read those letters repeatedly to aunt Mildred as she had macular degeneration. I was raised with your great grandparents through Nr 10 church and surrounding community. A great family. I too have lost family to this terrible disease and feel your pain. I might add keep asking your mother and grandmother for all their stories. I wish I had written down more of mine and ask so many more questions. I don’t expect you to print all the above just wanted to share. Love and Prayers. ps I also know your mother’s family as well. Small world!!! I feel I know you personally as I watch your show often relating to all of the above. You also are carrying on the family’s great legends.
So many great memories on my end, too! I can remember visiting Aunt Mildred and Uncle Chuck quite often and we would always stop at the artesian well on our way home. They had the sweetest dog, too… Trixie I think it’s name was? Thanks for following our story and watching the show! xoxo
Thank you for doing this, Heather. Our family is once again traveling this uncertain and often discouraging journey with Alzheimer’s now; the fourth time in our family. As a caregiver, it’s comforting to know what others are or have been experiencing with their loved ones and know that the Lord will carry us through. Your mom has been so supportive of me along the way and I know your blog will be, too.
Bless your heart, it’s such a nasty disease. One I wish I could just erase from this world, but someday we’ll find a cure! Thanks for following our story!
This is a wonderful thing that you are doing, Heather. Your grandmother, Gerry, and I were friends from grade school on, as her father was the minister at Hope Church that I attended. The memorial for my husband, Lee, was there last Sat. He passed away from dementia. It is a devastating thing. It was so nice of your mother to be there for me and I know how hard it had to be for her with just recently losing your father. I only wish I had known what was ahead for us as there were so many things that happened that we didn’t expect. Thank you for doing this.
Pat, I’m so sorry to hear about Lee. I was just talking to Granny about you the other day and she was so wishing she could have been there for you last week. She was with you in spirit. The road navigating Alzheimer’s or dementia is a rocky one with lots of twists and turns, but thankfully we have God as our chauffeur and we don’t have to navigate it alone. xoxo
Heather the story you are writing is so beautiful. I also have lots of memories about Dwight going to grade school together at good old Pilot school. Then when your Dad married my
beautiful daughter,Judy, he was exactly what we wanted for our son-in-law & he was always so willing to help us in any way possible. Keep up your good work in those memories as you will cherish them forever.
Love you, Grandma! xoxo
Heather, Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I look forward to getting to know your Dad through your words. My Dad is 2 years older than yours. He was diagnosed at the age of 56 with this horrible disease. My Dad, the most kind, smart, giving, hardwoking man I ever met ….how can this be. I often at a loss of how to deal with Alzheimers.
Kristin, I can only encourage you to dig deep to find joy each day and treasure the days you have with your Dad. Your story sounds so very similar to mine, and focusing on the small joys of each day really helped me stay positive around my Dad and for my Mom. Always remember, your Dad is still in there, he’s still your Dad, and will always be your Dad. Much love to you and your family. xoxo
Heather, your words are heart felt and hard for me to read too. I can’t imagine how difficult it was and still is for you and family. It is disease that robs the mind, but as you said, not their soul. Your Grand Dad singing hymns made me cry. Your Dad was a memorable childhood friend and high school “pal”. We always had fun! Please keep honoring their memory and sharing your story. Thank you!
Thanks so much, I look forward to sharing my Dad’s story! I’ve got BIG plans.
Thank you for sharing your journey. I watched my grandmother lose her battle to this awful disease and I’m now watching my mom become victim as well. My heart breaks slowly every day as I listen to her tell me she’s terrified, lost and just wants to go sleep and not wake up. I’ve never felt so helpless,
Kim, I’m so very sorry.
It is a terrifying disease.
Prayers are with you and your family.
My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 2 years ago. I am his only caregiver. He is 78, and the oldest of 9.I did not realize it was usually the oldest child. Thank you for your blog.It is a dreadful disease.
Shirley, every case is different. That’s just how it worked out with my Dad, but it sure doesn’t discriminate, that’s for sure.
Bless your heart for caring for your spouse, it’s a tough job and I’m sorry you are having to do it.
Heather, you don’t know me but we have a mutual friend Jackie Baxter. She told me about your blog because my dad was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She hoped it would give me some comfort. I write this with tears rolling down my face. Your blog has really touched me. My family has a difficult journey ahead as you have had. I cherish every moment with my dad and hope to continue to make and document memories. We are making a bucket list of things to do with him. Thank you for sharing your story.
Oh, Vanessa!
I’m so very sorry.
It’s a rough road, but that is exactly why I’m doing this blog… to be a resource for those other people out there like you, to help you navigate this disease. It’s awful, but know that your Dad is, and always will be, your Dad. There may come a day your Dad walks right past you without recognizing you, as my Dad did me, but he’s still in there. Hold tight to sweet memories.
Much love to you.