“New Media” or “Social Media” is all the rage when it comes to marketing. One of the main goals of internet marketing is to increase sales. Sometimes when we are marketing, the lines between developing business colleagues and making new friends become blurred. Last week I was lucky enough to make a new friend through the Internet. His name is Norman McNamara (“Norrms”) who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease at age 50. I invited him to write a guest post on my blog. You can read about his journey below.
Norrms McNamara
Hello, my name is Norrms and at the age of 43yrs old I was diagnosed with Heart failure. At the age of 50 yrs old I was diagnosed with Younger Early Onset of Alzheimer`s. I am now 53 years old and I intend BEATING BOTH!!
I am often asked how I stay so optimistic in my outlook in life. I always have the same answers. I truly believe there will be a cure in my lifetime, I have to, or what would be the point?? The most important answer I have is “I have such a wonderful family, three grown up children and NINE grandchildren!! What kind of lesson in life would that be for my grandchildren if I just gave up?? What would that teach them? As their granddad, I have always been there seeing them all at least three times a week and helping them through life and all its problems and I still intend being around for a long time to come.
When I was first diagnosed with early onset I was devastated and visited some very dark places, but as time has gone on I have realized I have got so much to live for. I deteriorated quite quickly at first and then I was prescribed the drug “Ebixa” or Memantine (I believe it’s called Namenda in the USA) and it has stalled the progression of it for the last fourteen months. Unfortunately it’s not a cure but it has given me my life back. So much so I have written two books about my experiences and also write a blog so I can hopefully try to help others in this position and also hopefully educate caregivers and professionals alike just what it’s like being diagnosed with such an awful illness and at such an early age. Most of the sales from my books will be donated to the Alzheimer’s association so to hopefully fund finding a cure.
I really want to say is “Where There Is Life There Is Always Hope” and there certainly is life after “Diagnosis”. So please, join me on my journey with Alzheimer’s, and I promise it’s not all doom and gloom!!
Norman Mc Namara or ‘Norrms’ was born in Bolton, and now resides in Devon ‘United Kingdom’ where he livse with his wife Elaine. You can write Norrme at normmc1957@yahoo.co.uk or find his blog and books at http://norrms.web.officelive.com/default.aspx
Marla Levie, BSW, MA, President and Founder of Focus on Aging, has successfully been providing marketing consulting services to the elder care market and to other service-related professions in the Chicago area for over 20 years. Use the contact tab to email Marla for additional information about her services.
