The Last Marathon

By Ron Buerkle

The Last Marathon is the author's experience of his descent into memory loss and his triumphs during his courageous battle back. His story highlights his positive attitude and his "can do" approach to overcoming obstacles he faced not only throughout his life but during his battle with Alzheimer's. The book chronicles Alzheimer's as Ron's final challenge, which he visualizes as the ultimate race-his last marathon. Even though he understands he will lose the war, he continues to win many battles. This humorous, uplifting, and inspirational story encompasses the many successes as well as embraces the dark side of his race against this disease. The author's incentive for writing the book is to encourage, support, and educate others and their families during their own race to the finish line. The Last Marathon includes the training techniques and lifestyle changes Ron applies to his daily routine. He and his doctors feel strongly these strategies are what have contributed to the disease's slow progression and Ron's continued high functioning despite his having virtually no memory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781642140880

Book preview

Introduction

I have always been a can do person with strong confidence and ability to see the big picture, analyze problems, and overcome bumps in the road. I have won most of the battles in my life. After several years of retirement, I felt I needed to do something worthwhile for others and provide more stimulus and satisfaction for myself. Since I had been a high school teacher, I decided to substitute teach at a large high school, teaching biology, physics, and other courses. I was really enjoying the experience with the teenagers.

As the months went by, the can do person was starting to crumble day by day. I started experiencing memory problems, was having trouble saying what I wanted to, and was feeling anxious, nervous, hesitant, and indecisive. Dread set in when I thought about the next classroom assignment.

I realized I needed to quit teaching and get help from a neurologist. My evaluation showed a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In looking for help to deal with this terrifying diagnosis, my wife and I attended an Alzheimer’s Association educational support program for people with MCI and early dementia and their partners. We also attended the Alzheimer’s Association and Mayo Clinic Meeting of the Minds conference. These two programs clarified for me that my life would now be different, but not over.

My can do attitude kicked back in, and I began to see this diagnosis as one more challenge, so I decided to fight back and give back. To give back, I entered a research study. To fight back, I added to my regular program of physical exercise and healthy eating. I also put together an extensive list of brain-stimulating activities including new experiences, social contacts, mental exercises, music, memory exercises, journaling, reading, and spiritual time. I made a conscious effort to accomplish activities from different categories each day.

The old saying Use it or lose it has some merit. Five years after my diagnosis, tests showed that with this plan and medication, I am doing extremely well. My outlook is positive, and although only time will tell if I will win this race, for now, I know I am keeping my pace.

The Warm-Up

I was born on Christmas Eve 1941. That was my first challenge. As a child, I just couldn’t accept my birthday and Christmas being celebrated with one gift and no party. It took me a few years, but I finally convinced my mom that from now on my birthday should be celebrated on May 23rd. From then on, Christmas was Christmas and my day was May 23rd.

My second challenge was being born into a lower class family in Minot, North Dakota, a railroad town. We were very poor. My mother and I lived in an apartment with my aunt and my younger cousin Lance for a few years because both of our fathers were in the military.

I was loved and supported by a close family, and my parents were hard workers. My mother was a clerk at the grocery store, and my father was a bread salesman. However, there were no expectations for higher achievement, and being poor was an obstacle that I struggled with for many years.

Two years old on the steps of my trailer house.

My grade school years were wonderful. I had many friends. When I was in the second grade, I started the Black Hawk Gang with six to eight guys that I played with. It sounds bad, but we were just a bunch of grade school kids playing army around the slough with our little forts, toy guns, jackknifes, etc. What a great time to be a kid. We could all be gone all day until supper, and no one wondered or worried about where we were. I always had a lot of great ideas and was pretty good at selling them to the other guys. Contest! I’d holler and then set up some race or game, or divide us up for a mock battle. Losing was never an option.

We were all pretty poor. Most of us lived by the railroad tracks. We weren’t what you’d call bad kids . . . but inventive. Like I said, I had a lot of great ideas. For example, we harassed the bums down by the tracks by pooping in