Coverdale Family Auction to Fight Alzheimer's

The Coverdale Family

Nine years ago, when our mother, MaryAnne was 54 years old, our family recognized something wasn’t right with mom. It began with little things, like not being able to catch on to the new computer system at work, or getting mixed up when driving in her hometown she cherished. One year later, our mother was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s disease at the young age of 55.

This destructive disease slowly took our mother from us; she could no longer write her name or notes on cards, and ultimately she lost her ability to recognize and communicate with us.

I’ll never forget one of the last times I actually talked with my mom. I had gone to visit her at the nursing home, about four weeks before she passed away. I approached her and said, “Hello.” She turned and looked at me confused, “I’m sorry, do I know you?” The breath from my body left me, and I stood staring at the woman who brought me and my brothers life, cared for every injury, and who never missed an event of any of her three boys’ lives. We miss the gentle way she greeted us, her ornery laugh, and her smile that made everything ok.

Throughout my young career, I cherish many honors and accomplishments. Being named 1998 Indiana Mr. Basketball, and being part of the Indiana basketball family and our 2002 National Championship run are two of these special moments. None of the honors or accomplishments do I cherish more than that of being one of my mother’s sons.

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is a disease where nerve cells deteriorate and die. Eventually the ability to take care of basic needs is lost, and individuals become dependent on caretakers for their every need. Ultimately, the body will begin to shut down. Every 70 seconds, someone will develop Alzheimer’s in the United States. There is no treatment to stop or slow down deteriorating brain cells in an Alzheimer’s brain; however, there are medications that are able to slow down some of the symptoms in a number of individuals.

Research compiled by the Alzheimer’s Association reports there is an estimated 5.3 million people suffering with Alzheimer’s in America. Of the 5.3 million, approximately 200,000 are early on-set individuals, under the age of 65. Our mother was 1 of that 200,000. On May 4th, after an eight-year journey fighting Alzheimer’s, our mother’s battle ended at the young age of 63.