Grandma Dora

My Grandma Dora passed away last night. She was an amazing woman and I will miss her deeply. A Holocaust survivor, mother of three daughters, and grandmother to five grandchildren, she had strength of character, with lots of energy and zest, and only love for her family.

Like over 5 million Americans, my Grandmother suffered from Alzheimer’s, a disease which destroys the brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Over the past 2 years, she started to tune out from reality, and in her final weeks she stopped eating and drinking altogether. Today, Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. To help in the fight against Alzehimer’s disease, make a donation or join the National Alzheimer Advocate Network and urge lawmakers to fund Alzheimer research and support programs.

I will always remember my Grandmother as somebody who loved to dance, cook, sew and most of all be with her daughters and grandchildren. Being with the family meant everything to her. She was a survivor, and I am here because of that.