My name is Susan and I'm 42, live in Tex, and on Nov. 3 1998 my daddy passed away. Lots of people may think I'm to old to call him Daddy, but that's what I've always called him and will till I die. I am still grieving for him, and like you I do it alone. I still have my mom, and four grown children and three beautiful grandchildren. which I feel I have to be strong for.

The one thing that I have been truly blessed for is the fact that my daddy and Mom are my Adopted parents. They chose me! Its a long story but I grew up knowing my birth mother, and she told me about my birth father who was killed in a car accident. Its been good to know both, but I cannot be truly blessed more, than to have had my adopted parents raise me.

And I wondered many times over the last five and half years that Daddy had AD why God would take this wonderful man from me. And make me have to watch him slowly drift away everyday in front of me. I also might add that my Daddys Dad, my Paw died with Alzheimer's Christmas Eve, 1975. Little did we know then that one day we would have to go through this with Daddy.

And my grandma, who is now 93, has had her husband and now her son taken by this dreaded disease. I don't know how she deals with it, but she does. I received your website from an e-mail friend this week. I wish I had met her sooner and you also. Although I had other e-mail friends I found over the internet who have a parent with A.D.

I tell you, they have definitely been a God send to me. I could have never made it through the last year without them. It really does help having someone to talk to that actually can say with all honesty, "I know what you're going through". I hope that in some way I was able to help them too.

I also want to say that the Hospice Group in our area was also a God send. They really were very kind and understanding and helpful.

If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. This has also opened my heart and mind to helping others who have to face AD day after day.