Stories Grandfather Granddaughter

Granddaughter of Alzheimer's victim puts together book to create awareness of ...

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Katie Sheahan wanted to honor her grandmother and at the same time add Alzheimer's disease awareness.

She has succeeded in doing both.

Sheahan has published "Remembrances," a collection of short stories submitted from people across the nation who have lost loved ones or close friends to Alzheimer's. Sheahan's own thoughts -- and her illustrations -- are included in the oversized paperback book. Sheahan is donating a portion of proceeds from sales of the book to the Alzheimer's Association.

Sheahan's grandmother, the late Ruth Shaw of Camp Point, died in 2005, a victim of Alzheimer's. Her grandfather, Bill Shaw, still lives in Camp Point.

Sheahan, 22, who lives in Alton with her parents, Jim and Sally, started the book as a project during her senior year at Missouri State University. She graduated May 13.

"I was taking a special topics class, and we had to pick a cause that meant a lot to us and do a project," she said. "I thought this would be the best way to share my story and make people aware (of Alzheimer's). I sent out a mass email to everyone I know, and so did Mom and my aunt."

One email led to another ... and another and another ... and in a relatively short fashion, Sheahan was hearing from people across the country. Once Sheahan had the material she needed, she compiled the stories, added her own illustrations and used an independent online publishing company to get the book in print.

"(My grandmother's) memories, and eventually her basic ability to do just about anything, were taken from her," Sheahan said. "In order for people to understand the severity of this disease, they usually have to have an experience like mine, where they lose a loved one. The more people know, the more they are going to care, and the more they care, the sooner we are going to find a cure for Alzheimer's."

Sheahan is not the only member of the Shaw family to take an active role in raising awareness about Alzheimer's.

"The Ruth Shaw family team is always our top fundraiser at our annual Walk to End Alzheimer's event," said Janet Veach, manager of the Quincy Area Branch of the Alzheimer's Association and marketing director of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

This year's walk is Sept. 1 at Clat Adams Bicentennial Park.

Sheahan's book costs $10, with $4 of each sale going to the Alzheimer's Association.

Grandfather (& Granddaughter) Fight Breast Cancer | Central ...

Our Komen headquarters picked up Darrell Skaggs’ story after he submitted an application for the annual Honorary Bat Girl Contest in partnership with 30 Major League Baseball teams. Darrell’s story is unique not only in that he is a male survivor, but he is actually one of five siblings – all sisters – and is the only one of them to receive a breast cancer diagnosis.

Shortly after being featured as one of Komen’s “ Stories of Inspiration ,” Darrell stopped by the Central Indiana Affiliate office with his son, daughter-in-law and four grandkids so that they could present us with a check for $118 from a lemonade stand sale. His granddaughter, Jadyn, organized the sale in his honor to benefit the fight against breast cancer (photo of Jadyn and Central Indiana’s CEO is featured at the bottom of this story).

Story submitted by Darrell Skaggs

Treatment: Lumpectomy, Chemotherapy, Radiation

I work in the Security/Safety department at Henry Schein Distribution Center in Indianapolis Indiana. I am a 59 year old male and have been married to my wife Wanda for 38 years. She is a special person. We have 2 sons, a daughter in law and 4 beautiful grandchildren. I guess we would be considered a normal family but the challenges we were given last March were less than normal.

March 6, 2010, I went to the emergency room with severe pain on my right side. Several years ago I was diagnosed with gall stones so I was sure (being the doctor that I am) I would receive something for pain and everything would be fine. After several tests the doctor informed me, what I was already aware of, my gall bladder was bad. He stated my gall bladder would need to be removed but he would still like to do a CT scan to see how bad it was. I didn’t know that the CT scan was going to save my life.

After the scan was reviewed the doctor came back to my room and informed me that my gall bladder was bad but they had also noticed a large mass in my left breast. I don’t believe at that time I was thinking cancer. The doctor scheduled an ultra sound of my left breast 2 days later. Now this is where my male brain started working. I was told to go to the “Women’s Center.” I didn’t like the sound of “The Women’s Center” but my wife said if she is with me everyone will think it is her to be seen.

When we arrived the receptionist hands me a form to fill out. The only question on the form that pertained to a man was my name. Then I’m told I will need a mammogram. I asked the technician “Are you serious?” She was and it wasn’t pleasant. Mammograms are bad enough for women but God did not design men for the mammogram. Then a doctor came in and said she would like to do the ultra sound herself. She found the mass and asked when would be a good time to schedule a biopsy. I said right now, because by this time I’m getting nervous, so she proceeded. She took several samples and said she would have the results by Friday. I told her as soon as she gets the results to send them to my family doctor and have him call me immediately.