Hello, friends.
It is another beautiful North Carolina morning. Big Bit is snuggled beside me while I write, read, and contemplate the future.
Writing about my daily reality with Alzheimer’s disease is a deeply personal, often challenging task. Every time I hit “publish,” I am sharing a piece of my mind, my vulnerabilities, and my hopes for the future.
Lately, looking at my Substack dashboard has left me with a mix of gratitude and a quiet sense of discouragement. On one hand, I see that our community has grown to about 430 free subscribers, and I am incredibly humbled to see that my read percentage averages a high 45%. Knowing that nearly half of you are opening these emails and reading my words means more than I can easily express.
However, writing as an Alzheimer’s patient can feel like shouting into a void when the comments section remains empty. Because I rarely receive comments, feedback, or reactions, it is easy to find myself feeling isolated, wondering if these stories are truly connecting with you.
I don’t expect sympathy - I am dedicated to using my voice for advocacy, education, and resilience. But as the symptoms of this disease present new daily crossroads, I truly need your active engagement and community support.
If my journey has touched you, informed you, or given you a new perspective on Alzheimer’s, I am humbly asking you to step forward today. Here are three simple, meaningful ways you can get involved right now:
Leave a comment. You don’t have to write a long essay. Just a quick note to say hello, share a brief thought, or let me know a specific part of a post resonated with you gives me the fuel to keep writing. Hearing your voices reminds me that I am not walking this path alone. Even a comment to Big Bit is appreciated!
Consider a small monthly donation. A vast majority of my writing is free, but it takes a significant amount of daily energy and focus. If you are in a position to do so, a small contribution—even just $5 per month—helps support my ongoing care, immediate living expenses, and advocacy work.
Share this publication. If you find value here, please forward an issue to a friend, family member, or colleague, or share a link on your own social media. Helping grow our circle brings more awareness to the realities of Alzheimer’s prevention and care.
Thank you for being here, for opening these emails, and for reading. I look forward to reading your comments and building a more interactive, supportive community together.
With deep gratitude,
Greg
Hi Greg - I'm one of your regular readers too. I found you last year through Reddit when I was looking to understand more about Alzheimer's after my dad was diagnosed. Everyone is different, but hearing at least one person's experiences - both the good and the bad - helps me empathize with my dad more as well preparing me personally for if/when it's my turn to face it. I'm not as brave as you with sharing things publicly and I'm not one to leave comments in public forums, but I wanted raise my hand to let you know that I'm here and virtually cheering you on from the sidelines.
I read and thank you for this. I have dementia too, non Alzheimer’s. I document my journey on YouTube so I know the struggle of sharing. Thank you for this. I read.