Yesterday was the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Central Park. My brother and I have tried to raise money and walk this event every year since 2022. This event is hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association to not only raise awareness, but provide support and education for those affected by this disease, which include not only the person with Alzheimer’s, but their caregivers as well. There is no fee to walk the event, you just register online and raise funds on your own or as part of a team.
At this event, aside from checking in, you pick up a flower at the Garden of Promise. There are four different colored flowers and each color represents a participant’s connection to the cause: blue for those living with Alzheimer’s, purple for those who have lost someone, yellow for caregivers, and orange for supporters. Originally when my brother and I signed up for this event in early 2022, we were looking at the yellow flower as the one we’d be picking up. Unfortunately that July my papa passed away and when we got there to pick up our flowers, my heart just broke to have to pick up the purple one and the ceremony that followed made my eyes sting from the tears of losing him.
Another part of this event is the opening ceremony where the emcee discusses their connection to this event and how Alzheimer’s has touched their life. This year it was actor Peter Gallagher who shared that his grandmother and mother were both died because of this disease. Then the part the emcee asks those with the color purple to raise their flower, the sea of purple breaks my heart. Knowing soo many people have lost a loved one to this disease is gutting. To see the amount of yellow flowers raised, symbolizing caregivers and hear the stats is shocking as well, and this is just in New York.
This year, my brother and I were joined by friends who made the event a lot easier on the heart for me. I cried when I saw my papa and godmother’s picture on the Tribute Walls which another part of this event that make everything more special.
Doing this walk for me is a chance for me to honor my papa’s memory, my godmother’s memory, and a it’s a chance to honor all the precious lives that have been lost to this cruel disease. Despite the challenges I’ve had recently, which I have talked about in my previous blog posts, nothing was going to stop me from going. I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to walk the entire event which is about 2miles but if I was able to walk Comic Con, I’m going to walk this event for papa. My stomach was giving me grief, but I showered, got dressed and went. This is the 2nd year they have done this event at Central Park and honestly I’m grateful. It is the most calming and picturesque walk I have had since last year’s event.
I was getting tired at a certain point since some areas we were walking were uneven and my legs aren’t used to that right now, but I powered through thinking of how strong my papa and godmother always were, even when faced with this merciless disease. When we crossed the finish line, I was grateful, proud and a felt an ache in my heart. I didn’t cry because our friends are just soo full of joy that yesterday was less painful. After we made our way out of the park and parted ways with our friends, my brother and I made our way home.
I was lucky to get a seat on the train and was limping by the time I got home. I ate something simple and then to my surprise, I joined my mom and brother outside to walk a bit and get a few groceries. After all the walking to the train, to the park, in the park for the event, then home and back out, I ended up walking a total of 11,599 steps, or 5.60 MILES!!!!!!
I definitely overdid it because the pelvic floor muscles are SUPER TIGHT again, but as I mentioned before, I’m trying to keep going as best I can, pushing myself when I can and really trying to do the physical therapy exercises or use the Therawand to ensure I don’t have anymore problems, but this is my life for right now and all I can do is keep pushing forward with the tools I have on hand mentally and physically to ensure my mind and body get back to a healthy state. To be strong and live my best life just like my papa did. No matter what life threw at him, he lived his best life and at the end with his last breath…he smiled. I know it’s hard to smile sometimes, but I am trying each day to find something to be grateful or smile about, even it’s looking at Comic Con pictures or cat/dog videos on Instagram. I will keep going as you did and live. Love you papa…boy do we miss you.
Until next time my phoenixes, tomorrow is a new day. If life is making it hard to smile or laugh, take out your photo albums and remember the good times, take out your phone and look at old pics or just look at good ol Instagram cat and dog videos. The AI one’s they are making these days are hysterical. Most importantly. Keep going!
Mind Body Synergylia 