Virginia (“Jan”) Krieger’s Life with Alzheimer’s Disease, 1999 - May 20,2005

Observations made by her loving husband Bill Krieger.-

In 1999 Jan was given an MRI brain scan which sadly confirmed that the dreaded Alzheirner’s Disease had invaded her body. Her illness didn’t change her spirit or personality from being cheerful, enjoying being with people, hosting and going to parties, singing, dancing, playing games, attending the theater, opera, and concerts. However, there was no recourse as the disease continued to intrude and slowly destroy Jan’s mind preventing her from doing things she previously loved and did with ease and thereby taking away her capability to continue living a full and active life.

An example of such a change was Jan’s participation In playing bridge which she dearly loved to play, not only for the game but the joy of being with friends. However, as time went by she reduced her playing time with several bridge groups and finally limited playing with but her one favorite group of eight players. When I asked members to advise me when Jan could no longer play well, I was pleased and somewhat surprised when the members told me that, although Jan’s memory was falling with the passing of time, when she sat down at the table to play bridge, she was alert and at her best playing the game very well. Jan continued playing bridge until she played her last game with the group in July of 2004 when she was hostess on her blrthday celebration bridge party.

Family members and Jan’s close Mends continued to note her slow memory loss and that she was also aware and frustrated that a change was taking place with her memory and ability to do things she had previously done handily. All through the years following our marriage on June 14,1941; I often told Jan how smart she was since she had been an honor student through all school levels and in 1940 graduated from the University of Wisconsin with honors while I, after meeting Jan, completed only two years as a university student when military service intervened. One of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life occurred not too long ago, when Jan was quite Ill, and I again joshingly told her how much smarter she was than I since she had graduated from the university with honors and I wasn’t a university graduate. Jan didn’t smile this time, gave thought for several moments, lifted her hand and pointed a finger to the side of her head and softly said, “But I’m losing my smarts.”

In recent years Jan was hospitalized on a number of occasions with her last prior entry being on April 25 when she entered the hospital and was bedridden for the entire week to treat an infected wound in her right heel The doctor then suggested that she remain in the hospital another week for physical therapy. Such an action would result in her remaining in bed for another week In the hospital since she no longer was able to walk. Jan, didn’t want to continue her stay and I agreed that it would be far better to return home, have her meals with the family and have family members move her around the house in her wheel chair. During the day, when the weather was favorable we would take her onto the patio where she enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine. Jan had a hospital bed and air mattress at home and we could give her proper care and comfort. I discussed this with the doctor and asked for her release with a request that he order a therapist to come to our home to conduct the therapy exercises. The doctor agreed and released Jan on April 29 and ordered a full hospital “Home Care Program” for her with daily home visits scheduled for a nurse to check her condition, a therapist to give her a strength exercise program and a trainee nurse who would come by every few days to assist or relieve my giving Jan her daily sponge bath. The hospital home treatment program started at once and worked very well whereby Jan continued living with the family In the famliar comfort of her home while receiving the hospital directed treatment.

On May 19 Jan woke up unusually early and woke me up in my bed alongside her bed. I got up and sat on her bedside where for the next two hours we had a wonderful, loving conversation. later that morning, after son Rich and I served Jan breakfast, we took her onto the patio for her daily spa foot bath. She enjoyed being out daily In the sunshine and fresh air. In the early afternoon Jan suddenly began coughing strenuously and had difficulty breathing. I called 911, the Paramedics arrived and oft we went to the hospital where every effort was made for her recovery. John and Rich joined me and we were at her bedside early in the morning of May 20 while Jan desperately made a valiant effort to stay with us but her heart then felled and she departed.

Our marriage was a wonderful 1-leaven on earth love we shared”. We were looking forward to celebrating our 64th wedding anniversary this June but fate intervened and it didn’t happen.

Jan leaving our family has been a very difficult and trying time for, all of the family for she was the heart and soul of our family. Now, as time moves on, we remember and mourn for a wonderful lady, wife, mother, partner and a friend of many.