Dancing in honor of her ill father
FATHER, From page 1 who can’t attend the event can vote by making online donations.
In the United States, approximately 200,000 people have younger-onset Alzheimer’s, which is diagnosed in people younger than 65, the Alzheimer’s Association states.
That’s about 4 percent of the 5.5 million Americans living with the brain disorder, which is a type of dementia that affects thought, memory and language.
In Maryland, there are 105,000 residents living with Alzheimer’s, said Cass Naugle, executive director of the association’s Greater Maryland chapter. That figure is up from 86,000 in 2013.
“It is projected that by 2025 there will be 130,000 Marylanders diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which is nearly a 30 percent increase,” Naugle said. "This[data] places an urgency on increased funding for research to find a cure."
Kia's mother, Beverly White-Seals, appreciates the opportunity the event provides to share her husband’s story as one of the 4,600 Howard County residents with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Jerry was a brilliant man, and all he ever wanted to be was a doctor,” said White- Seals, who is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County.
Dr. Seals, who was board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases, was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012, though he began having memory lapses as early as 2006 and retired a year later. His mental acuity started “noticeably going downhill” in 2010, she said.
White-Seals said that in October 2010, the couple’s son Kylen, who suffered from bipolar disorder and depression, shot and killed himself at age 29 on the side porch of the family home while Dr. Seals was inside on the phone, arranging to take him to the hospital.
“When you suffer an unimaginable tragedy like that, your whole cognitive being is impacted,” White-Seals said. “For both of us it was every parent’s nightmare.”
Dr. Seals became stubborn, aggressive and progressively less verbal as time went on, “which is nothing like his personality.”
“They called him ‘Doctor Smooth’ in med school at Columbia University because he was a calming influence amid the chaos,” recalled White-Seals, who was attending the university’s law school at the time.
“If you’d asked me 10 years ago if something like this could happen to someone so brilliantand physically fit …” she said, leaving her thought unfinished. “The Jerry I used to know was a very, very engaged father and absolutely my best friend.” While Dr. Seals has lost his ability to form words and express coherent thoughts, he occasionally surprises his family by breaking into song.
“One time he started singing, in full voice, every word and every note to Smokey Robinson’s ‘The Tracks of My Tears,’ ” after he heard it playing at the assisted-living facility, White-Seals recalled. “Something about music from generations back remains imbedded in his memory.”
Victor Broccolino, retired president and CEO of Howard County General Hospital, said White-Seals deserves a lot of credit for her openness about her husband’s illness.
“She realizes by bringing Jerry’s story to the fore that she can help other families,” said Broccolino, who has known the Seals family since 1990. “That’s typical of both Beverly and Jerry – to put others’ interests first.”
Dr. Oken described his former partner at Charter Internal Medicine, who is now his patient, as “part of Columbia” and said he was well known for his personality and big heart.
But his son’s suicide and his chronic back pain made him “age in front of all of us,” he said. “All these different things that happened to Jerrytook chinksout of his armor.”
White-Seals said preparing for the Mem- ory Ball is bringing her and her daughter great joy.
“We are a very philanthropic family,” she said. “It’sbeenfun for me to see Kia rekindle her love of dance for this worthy cause.”
Seals said it’s been therapeutic to dance again after a 10-year hiatus and to get acquainted with the other contestants.
“Most people with Alzheimer’s are much older, so my friends can’t really relate to what I’m going through,” she said.
“Through this event, I’ve been able to meet some really interesting people who share my experience.”
As she continues raising money in advance of the Memory Ball, she is also thankful for the opportunity to raise awareness.
“It can feel pretty helpless at times” to have a parent battling the debilitating illness, Seals said, “but I’m doing what I can.” janeneholzberg76@gmail.com Memory Ball The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland Chapter will host its 11th annual Memory Ball fundraiser from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, April 8, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 700 Aliceanna St., Baltimore.
For information on buying event tickets ($350) or voting for Memory Ball contestants through online donations, go to alz.org/Maryland and click on special events.
In the United States, approximately 200,000 people have younger-onset Alzheimer’s, which is diagnosed in people younger than 65, the Alzheimer’s Association states.
That’s about 4 percent of the 5.5 million Americans living with the brain disorder, which is a type of dementia that affects thought, memory and language.
In Maryland, there are 105,000 residents living with Alzheimer’s, said Cass Naugle, executive director of the association’s Greater Maryland chapter. That figure is up from 86,000 in 2013.
“It is projected that by 2025 there will be 130,000 Marylanders diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which is nearly a 30 percent increase,” Naugle said. "This[data] places an urgency on increased funding for research to find a cure."
Kia's mother, Beverly White-Seals, appreciates the opportunity the event provides to share her husband’s story as one of the 4,600 Howard County residents with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Jerry was a brilliant man, and all he ever wanted to be was a doctor,” said White- Seals, who is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County.
Dr. Seals, who was board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases, was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012, though he began having memory lapses as early as 2006 and retired a year later. His mental acuity started “noticeably going downhill” in 2010, she said.
White-Seals said that in October 2010, the couple’s son Kylen, who suffered from bipolar disorder and depression, shot and killed himself at age 29 on the side porch of the family home while Dr. Seals was inside on the phone, arranging to take him to the hospital.
“When you suffer an unimaginable tragedy like that, your whole cognitive being is impacted,” White-Seals said. “For both of us it was every parent’s nightmare.”
Dr. Seals became stubborn, aggressive and progressively less verbal as time went on, “which is nothing like his personality.”
“They called him ‘Doctor Smooth’ in med school at Columbia University because he was a calming influence amid the chaos,” recalled White-Seals, who was attending the university’s law school at the time.
“If you’d asked me 10 years ago if something like this could happen to someone so brilliantand physically fit …” she said, leaving her thought unfinished. “The Jerry I used to know was a very, very engaged father and absolutely my best friend.” While Dr. Seals has lost his ability to form words and express coherent thoughts, he occasionally surprises his family by breaking into song.
“One time he started singing, in full voice, every word and every note to Smokey Robinson’s ‘The Tracks of My Tears,’ ” after he heard it playing at the assisted-living facility, White-Seals recalled. “Something about music from generations back remains imbedded in his memory.”
Victor Broccolino, retired president and CEO of Howard County General Hospital, said White-Seals deserves a lot of credit for her openness about her husband’s illness.
“She realizes by bringing Jerry’s story to the fore that she can help other families,” said Broccolino, who has known the Seals family since 1990. “That’s typical of both Beverly and Jerry – to put others’ interests first.”
Dr. Oken described his former partner at Charter Internal Medicine, who is now his patient, as “part of Columbia” and said he was well known for his personality and big heart.
But his son’s suicide and his chronic back pain made him “age in front of all of us,” he said. “All these different things that happened to Jerrytook chinksout of his armor.”
White-Seals said preparing for the Mem- ory Ball is bringing her and her daughter great joy.
“We are a very philanthropic family,” she said. “It’sbeenfun for me to see Kia rekindle her love of dance for this worthy cause.”
Seals said it’s been therapeutic to dance again after a 10-year hiatus and to get acquainted with the other contestants.
“Most people with Alzheimer’s are much older, so my friends can’t really relate to what I’m going through,” she said.
“Through this event, I’ve been able to meet some really interesting people who share my experience.”
As she continues raising money in advance of the Memory Ball, she is also thankful for the opportunity to raise awareness.
“It can feel pretty helpless at times” to have a parent battling the debilitating illness, Seals said, “but I’m doing what I can.” janeneholzberg76@gmail.com Memory Ball The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland Chapter will host its 11th annual Memory Ball fundraiser from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, April 8, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 700 Aliceanna St., Baltimore.
For information on buying event tickets ($350) or voting for Memory Ball contestants through online donations, go to alz.org/Maryland and click on special events.
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