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JUNE K. BERG's LIFE and ALZHEIMER's
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BACKGROUND, ORIGIN and FAMILY
I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I was born on a small dairy farm near Colfax, WI on 8 November 1927. I am the oldest of 4 daughters and 2 sons. My mother Haldis was born in Norway and immigrated to the United States in 1915. My father Henry Rolstad was born in Dunn Co. Wisconsin. I was born at home during the great depression years. I completed high school at Colfax, WI during the World War II years. I am presently married to Stan, have 4 children (David, Dan, Susan and Julie) 10 grandchildren (Kristen, Gretchen, Steven, Jordan, Allison, Michael, Amanda, Erik, Emily and Daniel) and 3 great grandchildren (Andrea, Brianna and Marijane). While my husband Stan was a casual acquaintance in 1946, we did not have our first date until 1951 when Stan was home on leave from the U. S. Army Counter Intelligence. Our first date on a beautiful spring evening in May was dinner at "The Spot" on Chetek Lake Narrows and my first ever steak. Months later we danced in the New Year at The Spot. The popular song that year was "Tennessee Waltz" and it became our song. We were married in 1952 at Bloomington, IL and have been together for over 50 years..
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ACTIVITIES and INTERESTS
My prime interests are family, children and grandchildren. I enjoy having lunch or coffee with friends. I participate in church activities at Redeemer Lutheran Church. (Church Board, Sunday School Teacher, Bell Choir and Greetor.) I served as a Girl Scout Leader. I love collecting. (Angels, Avon Collectibles, Bells, Cobalt Blue Depression Glass, Cups, Dolls, Family Historical Pictures, Plates and Spoons.) Personal family and travel photography is great fun. I enjoy reading, especially Max Lucado. Travel is a great joy. Stan is a forensic consultant who traveled to forensic science conferences in the U. S. and abroad. I would always accompany him. We visited most large cities in the U. S. Our first international travel was to a conference in Russia, Hungary and Austria in 1969. During1972-1999, we visited London eight (8) times (our favorite city). Also in this same period we attended conferences in Edinburgh (Scotland), Dusseldorf University (Germany), Gottingen (Germany), Oxford University, (England) Rome and Zurich. Because of our many trips to London we became warm friends of Gordon and Joan Bruce of Bexley, Kent and watched their children grow up over the years. We also visited Mexico and Canada. (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver) I loved Dancing. Stan and I danced the night away in such exotic places as Moscow and Leningrad. I was fortunate in that I was able to take my mother on a trip to Norway in 1972, visiting relatives and mother's birthplace in Rodoy. In 1975, I guided a similar trip with my sister Betty.
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96 THE ALZHEIMER's CONNECTION
On January 26, 1998, (Black Monday) I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Because I had been concerned with my memory, tests were conducted at the University of MN that diagnosed early stage Alzheimer's. This diagnosis was later confirmed by the Mayo Clinic. Since that time my life has taken a dramatically different turn. As my cognitive powers started slipping away, I have had to give up my driving and many other independent activities. This disease caused Stan and I to evaluate our life at that point and do the things we had put off to a later date. We finally took the trip to Maui, HI that we always talked about. We took the bus tour to Branson that had been recommended many times by friends. We made a final trip to London to visit our English friends. We Managed to time this trip to coincide with the Sherlock Holmes Festival. We stayed at the Sherlock Holmes Hotel. Included was a Reception at Tower Bridge and a super fun lunch at Parliment's House of Lords Plaza (Lord Cottesloe's Guests) on the Thames.
Husband's Notes: On March 16th 2005, it became necessary to place June in the care of the Wellstead of Roger's an assisted living facility that specialized in Alzheimer's treatment. This turned out to be an unfortunate decision. When I later registered a written complaint to the Administration of the Wellstead in which I expressed dissatisfaction with their management of June's care, they responded with a letter (3/13/2006) that demanded June and I leave the Wellstead "effective May 1, 2006" or "at the earliest possible date." This letter was contrary to the fact that the Wellstead previously gave us a document that outlined our "right to present grievances and File Complaints" and to be "free from any form of retaliation." I wold be remiss if I did not thank the Wellstead Nursing Assistants such as Ashley, Emmy, Kim and others who displayed kindness and compassion to June during their watch. We were fortunate in quickly finding a nice facility that is literally a "stones throw" from the house that June lived in for nearly 40 years and her old neighborhood of near 50 years. (The Wellstead was 21 miles away.) Maybe this is God's response to my prayers to bring June home. June is now at "The Villa" (3/24/2006) which is the Alzheimer's wing of the Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck in New Brighton, MN. I have found the Benedictine to have a very positve and entirely different management atmosphere. This is probably due to the facts that unlike the Wellstead, the Benedictine is non profit, Medicare approved and a Faith based or Spiritual based Organization. Also unlike the Wellstead, the Benedictine has a full time staff member (Carol) whose only duty is training and retraining the nurses and aids. A CEO (Susan) that takes her turn as front door receptionist when needed. A front office staff that assists with resident feeding. It is my hope and prayer that June will now be able to live out her remaining days in peace and comfort. Note: Great Grandchildren (Erik's) OWEN ONEAL (8/5/06) and KATRINA ANN (1/18/08) were born who will never know their special Grandmother.
Alzheimer's is a terrible relentless terminal disease in which the brain cells (Neurons) slowly die and gradually shuts down various body functions. The brain is the body's control center. Eventually it may be unable to instruct the legs how to walk and the victim must be in a wheel chair. Some victims have seizures, some are incontinent, some have difficulty with speeech, some have difficulty swallowing, some have hallucinations and some have periods of sadness and crying. June has experienced all of these terrible symptoms that go far beyhond a simple memory loss. She needs help eating, dressing and bathroom. June suffered a fractured pelvis (while at the Wellstead) that went undetected (while she suffered without help) until it was found to be partially/almost healed in February 2006. Almost daily June is forced to visit hell. Alzheimer's kills over 196 people every day in the United States alone and the rate is rapidly increasing. It is the 6th leading cause of disease deaths in the U.S. (NIH) The U. S. Government budgets $27.5 billion for Global Health Spending (Time - July 06) but cannot find $1 Billion for Alzheimer's research!!. Unfortunately "Political Correctness" is Job One.
At first for June, the disease was mostly one of a loss of short term memory. This was followed by a gradual loss of the long term memory and cognitive powers. The mood and personality changers then took over. The memory losses are easy to handle. The cognitive changes along with the mood and personality chanes are heart rending. June had hallucinations when she at times did not think our home really belonged to us and that the real owners were coming back to harm us. At times she wold look at me as a stranger who did not live in our home and would order me out of the house. One time in mid winter and without a coat she ran away to a neighbers home. She would talk about wanting to "go home." I am told by Mayo and others that this is a common request by Alzheimer victims and usually refers to a childhood home. June was the one who on her own took her mother and stepfather on a coast to caost tour of the United States while doing all the driving and navigating. June was also the one who taught me how to travel around the city of London economically and quickly by using trhe underground system. I had always used a cab because I thought the London underground was too complicated and slow until June showed me the way. While I was attending Forensic meetings during rhe day, June was navigating all around London on her own. Over the years she did the same in Zurich, Rome and other large European cities, Now June can not find her room at the Nursing home. June was one who gave little import to her own accomplishments and was totally without guile or pretense. June has never strayed far from the personality and character found in that Colfax WI farm girl. June has given me so much and I can now give her so little.
June has given me a grand life and has so captured my heart that she is the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing at night. To me June is a very special and unique person who is the light and love of my life. June is the Orchid that I found while searchiing for a rose. June is a once in a lifetime find. To those who love Sherlock Holmes, June is my Irene Adler - "The Woman". ("A Scandal in Bohemia") While I have many faults, June had none. June never seemed to take note of my many faults and loved me just the same. Although June is now gone from the house that was once our home, I still find her presence in every room that I enter and in every drawer, cabinet or closet that I open. I find her presence in hundreds of poignant little reminders. I have asked God many times for a miracle cure. None has been forthcoming. Prayers by the Pastors of our church (Redeemer Lutheran), friends in the Catholic Church, The Billy Graham Staff, Pat Robertson's staff at CBN, and the Benny Hinn Crusade have all met with failure. Maybe your prayer will cure June?
Prayers are also requested for friends at The Wellstead - Wally Ulmaniec (Wife Karen), Nick Wander (Wife Lynda), Earl Zachman (Wife Theresa), Murlen Kellar (Wife Audrey), Bob Hammer (A faithful daily visitor to his wife Olivia until his death in Februay 2005). Also for my friend Don Fox (Wife Gloria) of Redeener Lutheran Church. All are dedicated husbands who are daily dealing with the grieving prcess of the "Long Goodbye." They also watch with anguish as they see the cnterpiece of ther life slowly sink into the dark abyss of Alzheimer's. In addition, prayers are requested for the millions of suffering vicims of Alzheimer's world wide.
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Related Links: (Just Click on The Links!)
Additional Government Funding for Alzheimer's Research is badly needed. When compared to the funding for AIDS-HIV, the present funding for Alzheimer's is ridiculous and shameful. Alzheimer's annual U.S. deaths are 6 times greater than that of AIDS-HIV but only receive a small fraction of the funding. AIDS-HIV research funding is 21 times greater than Alzheimer's. Please Contact your congressmen. Extreme Political Correctness is killing June!
U.S. Congress Website: www.Congress.org Alzheimer's Association
Email Responses can be made to: June Berg at: June6025@aol.com - Stan Berg at: Forensicb@aol.com
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