The Forget-Me-Not Conference

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To love is one of the greatest joys a human can endure: that bearing the weight of loss only made that time which you were allowed to soar on tender wings like Icarus all the greater. How wonderful after a long day of work, when arriving at your child’s school or daycare, and upon their faces a brightness like a sunbeam shines right at you,
“Mommy!” or "Daddy!" they shout and run into your embrace.
To love and be loved is such a fortune, for in love’s absence, its true glory is finally understood as if your borrowed wings of Icarus melted from flying too near the sun and now, in your plummet to the earth, you’d give anything to have those wings back.
What a true horror than, not to have never loved, but to have love forgotten.
Over seven million people in the United States have Alzheimer's, an unquenchable disease that silently pillages the memories and passions of a person. To go home to your mother, or wife, only for her to stare at you as if you are a stranger, or for her to yell and call the police. Her memory of love; gone. In Nebraska, over thirty-five thousand people have Alzheimer’s Disease, and there is no cure. There is only a cliff whose far ends are broadening. The CDC reports that by 2060, fourteen million Americans aged 65 or older will have Alzheimer's.
Coming to Omaha on September 17th, “Educating America Tour, Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference,” will have exceptional speakers, from Director and Professor Dr. Daniel L. Murman, about the early stages of the disease and new diagnostic tools and treatments at 10:30 am, and then at 11:15 am, nurse and educator Anna Fisher will speak on dementia care and engagement. At noon, the managing attorney and owner of Elder Law of Omaha, Catherine N. Swiniarski, will speak about the importance of early planning for the disease.
Opening the conference at 10:00 am, who will speak about the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will be its president, Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., who gave some important notes in an interview about the foundation, the conference, and himself.
Mr Fuschillo spoke about how the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America was founded by a caregiver in 2002 who took care of his mother from 1980-1992, “...because there was no one there to help.” And as per their website, “his goal was to make sure no one who had a family member with Alzheimer’s would have to go through it alone.”
“Our foundation provides support to caregivers.” Mr. Fuschillo spoke about the AFA, and with assurance, he spoke about finding a cure being the ultimate goal of the organization. The FDA approved therapies, which slow the disease, but “...early detection is so important.”
Then I pressed a question about hope:
“What sort of life choices could a person make to stave off Alzheimer’s?”
“It’s dictated in part by environment, but also by lifestyle. No drinking, no smoking, get sleep and exercise.”
In the interview, Mr. Fuschillo brought up how proud he was of the increased helpline hours that the AFA provides, as well as a virtual assistant on their homepage named Allison. It is certain that both are wonderful services in providing information and direction to resources for those in need. At the behest of Mr. Fuschillo, I tried out “Allison," and found her to be helpful in directing me to useful webpages and phone numbers.
In regard to helping people gain understanding and information, he exclaimed,
“This is why we do the conferences around the U.S. We travel to different states each month.”
At the coming conference on September 17th at Bellevue University, in the Hitchcock humanities Building (at 1040 Bruin Blvd, Bellevue Nebraska, 68005 for those of you with a Map-app on your phone), they are doing “Check-up’s from the neck up,” (a free memory screening, which hopefully will not have them give you recommendations on next steps. However, as Mr. Fuschillo pressed: early detection is important!).
If you want to attend (it is free!), the AFA has a registration on their website as well as more information on the speakers at the webpage, alzfdn.org/event/omaha-ne/
Perhaps going, even for the check-up up is enough; for who would want to forget love, or even the memory of love?
Alzheimer’s Foundation Of America
Educating America Tour, Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Conference
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Bellevue University
Hitchcock Humanities Building
1040 Bruin Blvd, Bellevue Nebraska, 68005
Austin Petak is an aspiring novelist and freelance journalist who loves seeking stories and the quiet passions of the soul. If you are interested in reaching out to him to cover a story, you may find him at austinpetak@gmail.com.
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