Bilyeu, Michele (75/75)
Michele Bilyeu
Salem, OR USA
Statement: As a member of the
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, I was asked by Ami Simms to send a 2" x
6" strip of purple fabric with the name of someone I loved on the back.
The name of someone who has, or has had, Alzheimer's Disease, or a
related dementia. As I began to write their names on the back, it was
like I could hear an honorary roll call being read out loud with each
and every name. At first I had a lump in my throat, and then a pain in
my heart and suddenly I began to feel tears as they streamed down my
face.
Nine names, nine purple strips, nine lives touched and
destroyed by the hurricane force of this horrible disease. Nine people
in my family alone, in my memory, in my own relating generation, in my
DNA, in my own heart. Since that day, six more names have been added to
that fate-filled list, including my own mother who now has advanced
Alzheimer's, and my father who just passed away with his own early
dementia. Now, there are not nine, but 15 members of my immediate family
whose purple ribbons are waving in the ribbons of love in my heart..
and out of that 15....only my mother is still alive, and still facing
the challenges of a changed, and ravaged life.
And just as these
purple banners wave across the hearts of all of those who view the
"Alzheimer's Forgetting Piece by Piece" quilts, and will wave again in
the "From Heartbreak to Hope" traveling exhibit in 2011, they wave, too,
in all of our lives. My life and the life of my family has been forever
changed, and I am so grateful to have this wonderful organization
supporting research into Alzheimer's. AAQI has given me the gift of
knowing I can make a difference...in my life, and in the lives of all
who face the challenges of Alzheimer's Disease.
Bilyeu, Michele (75/75)
Michele Bilyeu
Salem, OR USA
Statement: As a member of the
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, I was asked by Ami Simms to send a 2" x
6" strip of purple fabric with the name of someone I loved on the back.
The name of someone who has, or has had, Alzheimer's Disease, or a
related dementia. As I began to write their names on the back, it was
like I could hear an honorary roll call being read out loud with each
and every name. At first I had a lump in my throat, and then a pain in
my heart and suddenly I began to feel tears as they streamed down my
face.
Nine names, nine purple strips, nine lives touched and
destroyed by the hurricane force of this horrible disease. Nine people
in my family alone, in my memory, in my own relating generation, in my
DNA, in my own heart. Since that day, six more names have been added to
that fate-filled list, including my own mother who now has advanced
Alzheimer's, and my father who just passed away with his own early
dementia. Now, there are not nine, but 15 members of my immediate family
whose purple ribbons are waving in the ribbons of love in my heart..
and out of that 15....only my mother is still alive, and still facing
the challenges of a changed, and ravaged life.
And just as these
purple banners wave across the hearts of all of those who view the
"Alzheimer's Forgetting Piece by Piece" quilts, and will wave again in
the "From Heartbreak to Hope" traveling exhibit in 2011, they wave, too,
in all of our lives. My life and the life of my family has been forever
changed, and I am so grateful to have this wonderful organization
supporting research into Alzheimer's. AAQI has given me the gift of
knowing I can make a difference...in my life, and in the lives of all
who face the challenges of Alzheimer's Disease.
Total raised so far: $4,516.88
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative and Alzheimer's Disease: My Own Heartbreak to Hope
Michele Bilyeu blogs
With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska. Sharing thousands of links to
Free Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns and encouraging others to join in the
Liberated Quilting Challenge and make or donate small art quilts to the
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) Help us change the world, one little quilt at a time!
