April 13th 2008

"Alzheimer's? Isn't that the memory disease?" Harry was the first to speak, Jay and Louis were both stunned to silence.

Doctor Corden nodded, "It does affect the memory yes. That's one of the main parts of the disease. However there is a common misconception with Alzheimer's disease that you need to understand. Many people believe that Alzheimer's is similar to amnesia, only on a long term scale, but that is not the case. As a form of dementia, Alzheimer's does not only affect memory. It is essentially the decomposition of the brain."

"So my brain is like.... falling apart?" Louis asked finally breaking out of his brief shock.

Doctor Corden couldn't sugar coat it. "The cruel reality is yes, it is."

"So, what does this mean for him? What do we need to know about the disease?" Johanna asked, biting her lip, nervous about what would happen to her son.

"Well, firstly, Alzheimer's is a fatal disease, there is currently no cure. Usually patients live eight to twelve years after being diagnosed." Doctor Corden explained.

At his words, immediately Jay, Louis and Harry broke down into tears.

"Doesn't it usually only happen to older people?" Jay asked through a quiet sob.

"Typically yes, but nothing is impossible." He sighed, feeling bad for the poor boy as well as his family and friends. "Louis is one of very extreme few people to contract this disease at such a young age."

"Well what causes it? Why would he get it so young?" Jay asked, rubbing her son's back soothingly.

"In cases where the patient is young, it's usually genetic. Also, based on Louis' scans, we can see that he has several large plaques built of an extra protein, beta-amyloid, which is also a main factor of Alzheimer's." Doctor Corden told them somberly.

"So, what does this mean for him? What should we expect the next few years?" Harry asked, swallowing the lump rising in his throat.

"Well, there are seven stages of Alzheimer's. The first stage is very slight memory loss and forgetfulness. Things like forgetting to do an assignment every now and then, or losing the car keys, things like that. Louis you have already passed through that stage, as the behavior at that point isn't seen as abnormal. The second stage is when forgetfulness becomes more apparent. This is where you are at now it seems. Forgetting more things, you've probably been forgetting to do your school assignments-" Louis nodded at that and Doctor Corden continued. "You've also likely been forgetting the date and time, where you are headed, and probably some acquaintances names." Louis nodded again, a deep dread filling up inside him as this all became so real and scary.

"The third stage is next. You will start to forget simple words, and lose your train of thought. It'll be much harder to focus on even one task. You may find yourself easily distracted, and will often start wandering or pacing to keep yourself occupied. Planning and keeping organized will be nearly impossible. You will feel a significant difference in yourself at this stage, and you will need some help to not forget important things, or lose valuable items." Louis gulped, this just kept getting worse.

"Stage four, there will be struggles with simple arithmetic equations, such as two plus two. You will likely need help with anything involving money. Words will continue to get harder and at this stage your ability to read will be extremely limited. You may also find it a challenge to make decisions, or to match your clothes properly. You will occasionally experience hallucinations. This is the stage where you will start losing small parts of your long-term memory." Louis didn't want to hear anymore. He was already terrified enough, but he knew he had to. And besides, he'd probably forget it anyway.

"The fifth stage is when your disability will become noticeable to those around you whom you aren't close with, such as people you pass in the supermarket. This is when confusion starts, you will unfortunately feel confused for around 70% of the time during this stage. The hallucinations will happen more frequently in stage five. You will no longer be able to dress yourself appropriately for the weather, and getting dressed itself may become harder. When this stage is reached, I suggest getting pants with an elastic waistband, and avoid zippers, buttons and laces." Jay was subtly making notes on what the doctor was saying, growing terrified about this all. Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? The parent getting Alzheimer's and their child taking care of them? Not vise versa. "This stage is often referred to as the aggressive stage. Without even realizing you may lash out at strangers or even people you love, for reasons that are only in your mind. This stage is also commonly accompanied with hypersexuality and inappropriate behavior. You will need to be under constant watch, especially in public. You may forget simple things about yourself in this stage such as your phone number, address, or names of those you love, though your caretaker and those who are around you often enough, you will still recognize, even if you can't recall their names." Louis didn't think he could ever forget his family's names. They were too important to him.

"Stage six is what is often referred to as the major decline." Louis didn't like the sound of that. "This is when you will need help with nearly everything. You will need someone to bathe you, brush your teeth, help you to eat. This is also the stage that most patients lose the ability to control their bodily functions, and become incontinent." Louis blushed a crimson red, and he kind of hoped he would die before that even happened. "This stage is almost constant confusion, and unawareness of your surroundings and most around you, save for your primary caregiver, who you won't understand who they are, but will recognize as part of your life. Wandering also becomes much more severe in this stage." If stage six was this bad, Louis couldn't imagine what stage seven would be.

"The final stage, is when you will be hospitalized or under extreme hospice care in the home. This will be the last stages of life. You will no longer recognize your caregiver, and your body will essentially forget how to function. You will lose the ability to swallow, to move, and eventually to breathe. And that's when things will, well, end." Doctor Corden said, trying to be sensitive, but having seen so many with this disease, he'd found there was no use in sugar-coating it. It was a horrible illness.

By the time the doctor was finished speaking, everyone was sobbing. This couldn't happen, not to sweet, sweet Louis.

"D-doctor C-Corden?" Louis whispered, with tears falling down his cheeks.

"Yes?" He responded with a sympathetic smile.

"Do you have any idea what I'll feel like?" He asked, scared and sad.

"Having never experienced it myself, the best way I can describe it is in the words of one of my old patients. He described it as a 'fog creeping up on the horizon, where you feel it on the back of your neck and it rises up and envelops your head. The brain just feels numb.' " Doctor Corden replied with a sad look on his face.

Louis just nodded, curling in on himself not wanting to talk anymore.

"Is there any other questions you have for me?" The kind doctor asked as he gathered up his papers and stood.

The three shook their heads silently, all processing this new information in their minds.

"I'll be back shortly then with the discharge papers." Doctor Corden said, exiting the room.

***

"Lou?" Harry asked after a few moments of silence. "Is there anything I can do? Anything you need?" He wrapped his arms around the scared, sick boy.

Louis looked at him with tears trickling down his face. "Just..... don't let go."

Sorry that chapter was probably a bit boring, but it was one that needed to happen as they prepare and learn what to expect over the coming years. It is also what you as readers can come to expect as well, however there will be happy moments as well, not all sad. Until next time (: xx please vote and comment!!

-Sunnie