WE ALL KNOW that at least one of our New Year’s resolutions should involve the sisterhood–being a better friend, staying in closer touch, listening instead of having only our say. So not to be a nag about this, but here’s another one to add to your list: Get involved in the research to eradicate a sister’s illness.
Chances are good that you run, walk, bike, stitch, knit, call, write a check, lick envelopes or in some other way show up in support of some good cause. For 15 years I’ve participated in a longitudinal study at New York University Hospital to study how brains age, in part to give back to the wonderful place that cared for our mother, an early-onset Alzheimer’s disease patient.
Over the years I’ve had my brain MRI’d, my gait measured, memorized alphabetized grocery lists and recited them backwards, and donated what feels like buckets of blood to help to find the cure for disease that caused my mother to lose her mind in handfuls. I’ve also written a lot about her and her illness, including a piece about the long term study for the Science Times section of The New York Times.
While I still participate in that NYU study, I think it’s now time to do something for a sister’s (or brother’s) illness. And I hope I choose well. This has been on my mind since hearing from those of you who commented on my post about losing a sister.
It was amid that correspondence that I read of Angela Lansbury’s recent loss of her sister to ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. In response, the actor has become the public face of the devastating disease and has taped a wonderfully effective public service announcement (above) for the ALS Association.
Talk about showing up. There are many reasons to love Angela, but this may be her best role yet.
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An article in TSP’s Sisterpedia offers details of the largest and latest breast-cancer studies involving siblings.
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Hear, hear. This is moving, and a fantastic reminder about the things we can all do to help…
Recently, I’ve been introduced to a woman who has ALS. She is 55, and her son an daughter have no contact with her because the “Struggle with seeing her like that”. The woman feels very hopeless about the future and has been moved into an assisted living facility. Myself, my friend and her mother would like to start regularly spending time with this woman. We thought cooking with her once a week to give her a break from the cafeteria food, and getting her into some crafts/projects would be very beneficial. Do you have any resources on crafts/hobbies for people who have limited grip ability in their hands?
Thanks so much!
Hi, Meghan. Welcome to TSP. What a fine and wonderfully sisterly response to a woman in need. Let’s put it out there and see if anyone has any ideas, though I do think cooking is lovely since it is both an activity and a nourishment. Good for you. Let’s see if the other TSP sisters have any suggestions. Make sure to read the posts in “Teaching John to Cook,” to see if these are simple enough for the project. And do come back and let us know how you are doing.