Some encouragement for all of you out there who have a loved one who are suffering with this heartbreaking disease! My mom suffered with alzheimers for almost 10yrs. and we lost her in April of 08. I always believed that when I looked into her beautiful blue eyes that looked as thou she just gazed at me with a far away lost look that I believed somehow, someway, she my beautiful dignified,most intelligent mom was still in there even though she for whatever reason that we couldn't understand medically or emotionally couldn't respond to us . Especially I would say the last 2 years! But I won't turn this into a book about my mom which I could easily do! My message to all of you is .......Please talk to your loved ones like you did before they ever got sick, tell them what's going on in your lives, talk about their life and loved ones  and things that made them happy because they can hear you and they do understand you! Don't treat them as if they and their minds aren't their because you couldn't be more wrong! Now for the true miracle the few weeks before my mom passed away . She had previously been hospitalized told she wouldn't make it, then bedridden barely eating, didn't really say full sentences or make alot of sense for a long time.Then all of a sudden had the best  appetite  we ever saw her have, she was moving herself around in a wheelchair, saying not only words but sentences... it was unbelievable! When she took a turn for the worst after that the didn't open her eyes for 4 days it broke my heart thinking I would never see her beautiful blue eyes again or hear her voice as I sit here crying! But you know what ...their are 4 of us 3 girls and 1 boy and my mom opened her eyes and tried to speak to each and every one of us! She knew exactly what was going on! It's as if her illness was gone should I say illness of her mind, she couldn't have been more coherent and I know of others with the same experiences ! So what I am trying to share with all of you is that I have always believed from my heart is factual they are still with you so let that give you some comfort knowing that they understand everything you say to them so share your joys and accomplishments with them, show them pictures, treat them with the same respect you always did when they were in the right frame of mind because they still are! They just can't show or speak  back towards the final stages! I only hope I have helped one person thru my heartbreaking experience!