In Memory of a President

by Heather Finn

On June 5th of this year, America laid to rest her 40th president, Ronald Wilson Reagan. Not only Americans, but also people from all over the world, watched as a very fragile Nancy Reagan said goodbye to the man who she stood by – not only during his presidency – but also through the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that had been crippling his mind for the past 10 years.

Alzheimer's is a disease that affects the brain, mainly causing memory loss. Other symptoms of AD are confusion, tiredness, inability to concentrate, problems with speech, and some mental disabilities. The first signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss. Sadly many people fail to realize it is AD, because they assume that it is a result of aging. AD slowly destroys the ability to function normally in life.

It is sad to think that President Reagan, along with his family, had to endure 10 long years of this disease. In a letter President Reagan wrote revealing his disease, he said this: "Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from the painful experience."

Rest assured though, Nancy Reagan never left his side, and I am sure that brought the President great comfort. The Former First Lady had been his primary caregiver for a countless number of years. It saddens the hearts of many who watched as she cried over her husband’s casket.

Nancy once said of her husband Ronald, "I think they broke the mould when they made Ronnie..."