THE REASON GIVEN BY THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF CARING KIND, THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE SUPPORT OR MEMORY GROUPS, WAS THAT I AM TOO FUNCTIONAL. SHE SAID BECAUSE I CAN USE A MOBILE PHONE AND A COMPUTER. IT MIGHT INTIMIDATE SOMEONE WHO CAN’T READ OR WRITE, OR USE A PHONE.

SHE CALLED IT HER “CLINICAL ASSESSMENT”.

I WAS SO HURT THAT I WENT INTO OVERDRIVE, INSTEAD OF WALKING OUT OF THE BUILDING AT THE LOBBY, I WALKED UP THE BACK RAMP TO AN OUTSIDE/ INSIDE DEAD END. I WANTED TO CRY. INSTEAD, I TURNED AROUND TO WALK THE STREET IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THE CAR. CALLED MY DAUGHTER. SAT ON A STOOP, NEAR GRAND CENTRAL STATION, AND WAILED TO HER. SHE TALKED ME OFF THE LEDGE.

CARING KIND WAS MEAN. IT IS A BIG DEAL TO RECEIVE A REJECTION LIKE THIS FROM THE ORGANIZATION THAT REPLACED THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION IN NEW YORK.

I WAS LED ON FOR 9 MONTHS THAT I WAS WAIT LISTED.

I  ENDED UP BEGGING HER. BUT THE MORE I BEGGED THE WORSE IT GOT. I SAID, “ALLOW ME TO BE IN THE CHORUS, AS YOU HAD OFFERED THAT”. SHE RESCINDED THAT TOO.

MY SPIRIT WAS HUMBLE.

AM I AN UNTOUCHABLE?

EVERY HUMAN WANTS TO BE LOVED AND ACCEPTED.

I AM HUMAN.

I AM A WOMAN WITH YOUNG ONSET ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.

I AM VERY TROUBLED BY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME.

THERE ARE NO SUPPORT GROUPS FOR EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’S IN THIS AREA. IN NEW YORK THERE IS CARING KIND.

I CALLED THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSN. AND WAS TOLD THE CLOSEST SUPPORT GROUPS ARE 2 HOURS AWAY IN WESTCHESTER. NOTHING IN NEW YORK. I DO NOT DRIVE AND CAN’T TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ALONE (ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO DO ALONE).

MY QUESTION TO CARING KIND IS WHY WOULD YOU NOT ACCEPT ME? ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MYSELF WHILE I CAN,  OFFER FRIENDSHIP. UNDERSTANDING.

WHY WOULD YOU REFUSE TO DO THAT FOR A WOMAN WITH EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR SAID NO.

GO AWAY.