Dear Annie, Please excuse the tardiness of this note but I want to express my condolences to you and your family.
So much of what you shared about your mother and your your family’s experience struck a cord for me.
I,too, lost my mother to AD which was like losing her in inches.
I,too,have had a career in medicine so looked desperately for a way to help her and the rest of my family to cope.
Now, years later I follow you and work with ARPF to do all that I can to promote healthy aging.
Unfortunately, my sister and a medical school classmate are suffering at this time but I am confident we will continue to learn how to make inroads for brain health. I hope to be able to join you on one of your retreats- have a blessed and healthy 2025!
Hello Judy. Thank you for writing. I am sorry you had to lose your mom to this disease, and that your sister and friend are now suffering. I am constantly struck by how many of us here aon BHK are following a similar path. Thank you for being here and for all the information you are spreading to help people with their brain health.
Annie, it’s beautiful to read of your lovely mother’s life and the work you’ve poured into creating a community of people who value brain health. Losing one's mother is the most poignant and difficult event in one's life. My mom shaped my very core and I miss her daily.
Annie, you and I “met” via email through a mutual friend who learned of my connection to Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson. I’ve been following your work ever since and I look forward to meeting you in person soon in Costa Rica.
Annie, so sorry for the loss of your amazing mom. Such a beautiful tribute you wrote to her. Reading about her life, along with reader comments and your thoughtful replies, made me feel understood and not alone. I lost my loving mom to Alzheimer’s in July of 2023. When you wrote to a reader: “the repeated losses of your mom”, those words captured how I felt and expressed the pain of Alzheimer’s on their family. My brother and I agreed that our mom was saving us through her illness as it encouraged our learning about brain health. Through your beloved mom, you are helping and have helped so many people, you and your work are a beautiful legacy of her for generations to come. Thank you so much for creating BHK, your mom is so proud of you. Wishing you comfort and peace in memories of her.
Oh, Annie, I am so sorry for your loss. I have been offline for a few weeks as my Dad was in hospice and just passed on November 18. Thank you for sharing the deeply personal story of your Mom. Blessings to you for the care you provided to your Mom and the work that you do to advance brain health. My thoughts are with you in this time of loss and grief for you and your family. May your Mom, Rest In Peace with your Dad after a courageous and incredible life. My heartfelt condolences in this time of loss, Sheri
Thank you Sheri. I am also terribly sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. I hope you are finding comfort in keeping his memory alive. It really helped me to write down my mom's story. But as you know this grieving process never really ends, it just keeps evolving. xoxo
Belated condolences on what sounds like an incredible woman and mother. Both my mother and sister died as a result of Alzheimers (both also at about the 10 year mark); with my sister getting her diagnosis at about age 54. I am so grateful that I discovered your newsletter; and that you chose to share your knowledge with others regarding brain health. Thank you, sincerely, and also thank you for the beautiful tribute to your mother.
Thank you Kerry. I am terribly to hear that you lost your sister and mom, and your sister being diagnosed so young. Such a tragedy. I am glad you are here. We are here to change the trajectory.
It's Laura's Mom and I enjoyed reading about your Mom and her journey with Alzheimers. I am grateful for the work you do in creating great recipes to thwart this debilitating disease. Your words and pictures really tell the story of your Mom, the trailblazer. Thank you for sharing her story. I am sorry about her passing and I hope it was therapeutic to put pen to paper. Seeing Nick with Grandmom made me smile:) Allow me to share a few words about my own Mom, Ave Maria Turnbull who also succumbed to Alzheimer's. She was born in Ocean City, NJ and was the first female in her family of 10 to attend college. Her brothers went to school on the GI Bill. We had vague warning signs that she was losing her short-term memory but it was after her open-heart surgery that she declined rapidly. What we thought was "post-pump syndrome" really was her brain failing. She took a big turn for the worse. Ave was an avid reader and highly intelligent woman who became glued to a single few phrases which she repeated all day, "where am I, and who are you."? The words pierced our soul as we navigated her decline. This included harrowing events such as taking away her car keys and her entire apartment building having to evacuate since she forgot about the bacon on the stove. She even called the police in the middle of the night in our home in NJ , thinking she had been kidnapped - she didn't know where she was. They arrived with flashlights in tow and a lot of questions thinking the worst. At the time Laura was only 2 years old. As you know the journey well, it's especially hard when they can no longer be safe in your home. We moved her to an advanced care setting where her moments of lucidity became more rare, and vacant stares became the norm. Like most Alzheimers patients, she passed after 10 years of diagnosis. I cannot tell you how much reading about your Mom, brought me back. I am interested in becoming involved in any projects you might have that promote healthy eating as an avenue to mitigate the incident of Alzheimers. I'm all in. Thank you for what you do and feeling your loss around this holiday. Maria Longley
Oh Maria, I feel so much for your mom and for all of you. Thank you for writing down her story. It's heartbreaking to see a vibrant women like Ave decline, and so rapidly. I am so glad you are here. And thank you for your heartfelt condolences.
Hi Annie, I just want to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences regarding the passing of your beautiful mother. You were blessed with a wonderful mother and you have been an incredible daughter. May she rest in peace and may you be comforted by the lovely memories you shared.
I have been following you for years now since you first appeared in a cooking demo presented by The Kensington Sierra Madre where my mom was living at the time. Then I had the pleasure of meeting you at your book signing near my home in Corte Madera, CA. I relate to your mom’s story because my mom has unfortunately followed the same course. My mom was born in 1936, like your mother & she also has Italian roots. She has suffered from this Alzheimer for 10+ years. Starting her on palliative care just this week was a heart wrenching decision for me. I appreciate all the great information you share and hope to spare myself and my family from the same fate, as Alzheimer’s runs on the maternal side of my family.
Gabriela, thank you. It's good to know how our paths have crossed. My mom was accepted into hospice at home in August. It is a gut wrenching decision but it happens when it needs to happen. Please reach out if you need to talk. I will be thinking of you and your family.
Hi Annie, I very much appreciate your sweet response. It especially touched me today because Mom moved very quickly from palliative care last week to hospice this week. It's so wonderful that your mom was able to be at home when she passed. I hope you feel at peace and are comforted that she is no longer suffering.
My mom has been in extreme pain since she broke her hip on 10/27 due to a fall. Following surgery she returned to her memory care home and I had hoped that she would recover there, but she had to return to the hospital only a few days later...it was obvious that her hip was now dislocated. The doctor reset it and sent her back home the next day. Her dementia is so severe that she can't follow instructions so there is no way for her to rehab. Today, I saw that her knee was turned in again so it is likely dislocated again. My heart just sank. It's such a helpless situation. She continues to be in pain. Hospice is working to mitigate the pain, but we are not there yet.
Deeply touched, and shedding tears, reading this. I do not know what it is like to lose a loved one to Alzheimer’s. But I do know what it means to lose one’s mother. My heart reaches out to you with support and caring, as you and the family absorb this greatest of losses. Thank you for sharing your and your mom’s stories. 💔🙏🏻
Annie, I’m, just getting caught up on last weekend’s emails and wishing this note weren’t so belated. I have heard you talk about your mom from the time I met you, and I have appreciated all your sharing as the journey with her progressed. As I live with my own dad’s long dementia decline, you have pointed out ways to find joy while also taking meaningful action - letting our parents inspire the best in us along the way. This series of small deaths, the long good bye, is a tiring challenge, but it also presents opportunities for growth and love. My dad was always heavy on the ‘right’ logical response to a situation, even those that called for the opposite style response. Now, the logic is usually unavailable, and he talks in the simplest and most heartfelt terms about how much he loves and appreciates us. Of course, this affection is often preceded by a lot of cussing and complaining about having to shower or dress in clean clothes - the disease speaks amid the love.
You and your mom are in my prayers - may you find many unexpected gifts among the experiences of grief. And how cool that a ‘spry’ old Franciscan monk did the graveside service! Sign me up for that.
Hi Tom, it is so great to hear from you. I am sending so much love to you and your dad, and your whole family. I think you are paying attention to the right things, gleaning the unexpected moments of joy. But it is all so hard as you know. I am here for you.
Annie, I loved reading about your mother. I know she must have been so proud of you. You are doing such wonderful work to help spread the word that Brain Health can be achieved by eating delicious foods. My mother, too, is struggling with swiftly advancing Alzheimer's and it is a difficult journey for all to witness, especially as a daughter and caregiver. Your recipes and emails inspire me and fill me up with healthy food, which, I hope, will allow me and my family to not end up dealing with Alzheimer's down the road. Thank you! I wish you and your family peace.
What a beautiful tribute Annie. My heart goes out to you and aches for this loss. I can't imagine how painful it is to say goodbye to a person that meant so much to you. Sharing a quote that I hope brings you comfort: "The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life." Sending all of my love.
We don't really know each other Annie, but I feel like I do, and I am sorry for you loss. Your mum would be immensely proud of you and all you do to help everyone understand, prevent, and manage brain health.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family Dr.Annie Fenn on the passing of your beloved mother. May she rest in peace. She surely must have been an exceptional individual being the mother of such an incredible daughter. God bless you for sharing all your knowledge regarding cognitive health but I’m also most grateful for the memories you shared about your Mom.
Dear Dr. Annie, I am so sorry sorry for your loss. Having met you just a few years into your brain health journey at Rancho, and joining you in that journey, I hope that your Mom is always remembered for being a catalyst for you to guide and teach, ultimatley thousands of people who will now be less likely to suffer the ravages of dementia and Alzheimer’s as they have adopted new and healthier ways of eating. My heart aches for you and hope that all of these wonderful memories and photos give you and your family comfort during such a hard time. Love Jill
Dear Annie, Please excuse the tardiness of this note but I want to express my condolences to you and your family.
So much of what you shared about your mother and your your family’s experience struck a cord for me.
I,too, lost my mother to AD which was like losing her in inches.
I,too,have had a career in medicine so looked desperately for a way to help her and the rest of my family to cope.
Now, years later I follow you and work with ARPF to do all that I can to promote healthy aging.
Unfortunately, my sister and a medical school classmate are suffering at this time but I am confident we will continue to learn how to make inroads for brain health. I hope to be able to join you on one of your retreats- have a blessed and healthy 2025!
Judy Romano
Hello Judy. Thank you for writing. I am sorry you had to lose your mom to this disease, and that your sister and friend are now suffering. I am constantly struck by how many of us here aon BHK are following a similar path. Thank you for being here and for all the information you are spreading to help people with their brain health.
Annie, it’s beautiful to read of your lovely mother’s life and the work you’ve poured into creating a community of people who value brain health. Losing one's mother is the most poignant and difficult event in one's life. My mom shaped my very core and I miss her daily.
Annie, you and I “met” via email through a mutual friend who learned of my connection to Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson. I’ve been following your work ever since and I look forward to meeting you in person soon in Costa Rica.
Oh Marion, thank you so much. I can't wait to see you soon!
Annie, so sorry for the loss of your amazing mom. Such a beautiful tribute you wrote to her. Reading about her life, along with reader comments and your thoughtful replies, made me feel understood and not alone. I lost my loving mom to Alzheimer’s in July of 2023. When you wrote to a reader: “the repeated losses of your mom”, those words captured how I felt and expressed the pain of Alzheimer’s on their family. My brother and I agreed that our mom was saving us through her illness as it encouraged our learning about brain health. Through your beloved mom, you are helping and have helped so many people, you and your work are a beautiful legacy of her for generations to come. Thank you so much for creating BHK, your mom is so proud of you. Wishing you comfort and peace in memories of her.
I love how you reframe the tragedy of your mom's disease as something that may be saving your brain. That's so lovely. Thank you.
Oh, Annie, I am so sorry for your loss. I have been offline for a few weeks as my Dad was in hospice and just passed on November 18. Thank you for sharing the deeply personal story of your Mom. Blessings to you for the care you provided to your Mom and the work that you do to advance brain health. My thoughts are with you in this time of loss and grief for you and your family. May your Mom, Rest In Peace with your Dad after a courageous and incredible life. My heartfelt condolences in this time of loss, Sheri
Thank you Sheri. I am also terribly sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. I hope you are finding comfort in keeping his memory alive. It really helped me to write down my mom's story. But as you know this grieving process never really ends, it just keeps evolving. xoxo
Belated condolences on what sounds like an incredible woman and mother. Both my mother and sister died as a result of Alzheimers (both also at about the 10 year mark); with my sister getting her diagnosis at about age 54. I am so grateful that I discovered your newsletter; and that you chose to share your knowledge with others regarding brain health. Thank you, sincerely, and also thank you for the beautiful tribute to your mother.
Thank you Kerry. I am terribly to hear that you lost your sister and mom, and your sister being diagnosed so young. Such a tragedy. I am glad you are here. We are here to change the trajectory.
Hi Annie,
It's Laura's Mom and I enjoyed reading about your Mom and her journey with Alzheimers. I am grateful for the work you do in creating great recipes to thwart this debilitating disease. Your words and pictures really tell the story of your Mom, the trailblazer. Thank you for sharing her story. I am sorry about her passing and I hope it was therapeutic to put pen to paper. Seeing Nick with Grandmom made me smile:) Allow me to share a few words about my own Mom, Ave Maria Turnbull who also succumbed to Alzheimer's. She was born in Ocean City, NJ and was the first female in her family of 10 to attend college. Her brothers went to school on the GI Bill. We had vague warning signs that she was losing her short-term memory but it was after her open-heart surgery that she declined rapidly. What we thought was "post-pump syndrome" really was her brain failing. She took a big turn for the worse. Ave was an avid reader and highly intelligent woman who became glued to a single few phrases which she repeated all day, "where am I, and who are you."? The words pierced our soul as we navigated her decline. This included harrowing events such as taking away her car keys and her entire apartment building having to evacuate since she forgot about the bacon on the stove. She even called the police in the middle of the night in our home in NJ , thinking she had been kidnapped - she didn't know where she was. They arrived with flashlights in tow and a lot of questions thinking the worst. At the time Laura was only 2 years old. As you know the journey well, it's especially hard when they can no longer be safe in your home. We moved her to an advanced care setting where her moments of lucidity became more rare, and vacant stares became the norm. Like most Alzheimers patients, she passed after 10 years of diagnosis. I cannot tell you how much reading about your Mom, brought me back. I am interested in becoming involved in any projects you might have that promote healthy eating as an avenue to mitigate the incident of Alzheimers. I'm all in. Thank you for what you do and feeling your loss around this holiday. Maria Longley
Oh Maria, I feel so much for your mom and for all of you. Thank you for writing down her story. It's heartbreaking to see a vibrant women like Ave decline, and so rapidly. I am so glad you are here. And thank you for your heartfelt condolences.
Hi Annie, I just want to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences regarding the passing of your beautiful mother. You were blessed with a wonderful mother and you have been an incredible daughter. May she rest in peace and may you be comforted by the lovely memories you shared.
I have been following you for years now since you first appeared in a cooking demo presented by The Kensington Sierra Madre where my mom was living at the time. Then I had the pleasure of meeting you at your book signing near my home in Corte Madera, CA. I relate to your mom’s story because my mom has unfortunately followed the same course. My mom was born in 1936, like your mother & she also has Italian roots. She has suffered from this Alzheimer for 10+ years. Starting her on palliative care just this week was a heart wrenching decision for me. I appreciate all the great information you share and hope to spare myself and my family from the same fate, as Alzheimer’s runs on the maternal side of my family.
I am sorry to hear all this. I hope she will be as comfortable as possible and you can lean into this new phase of her care.
Gabriela, thank you. It's good to know how our paths have crossed. My mom was accepted into hospice at home in August. It is a gut wrenching decision but it happens when it needs to happen. Please reach out if you need to talk. I will be thinking of you and your family.
Hi Annie, I very much appreciate your sweet response. It especially touched me today because Mom moved very quickly from palliative care last week to hospice this week. It's so wonderful that your mom was able to be at home when she passed. I hope you feel at peace and are comforted that she is no longer suffering.
My mom has been in extreme pain since she broke her hip on 10/27 due to a fall. Following surgery she returned to her memory care home and I had hoped that she would recover there, but she had to return to the hospital only a few days later...it was obvious that her hip was now dislocated. The doctor reset it and sent her back home the next day. Her dementia is so severe that she can't follow instructions so there is no way for her to rehab. Today, I saw that her knee was turned in again so it is likely dislocated again. My heart just sank. It's such a helpless situation. She continues to be in pain. Hospice is working to mitigate the pain, but we are not there yet.
Deeply touched, and shedding tears, reading this. I do not know what it is like to lose a loved one to Alzheimer’s. But I do know what it means to lose one’s mother. My heart reaches out to you with support and caring, as you and the family absorb this greatest of losses. Thank you for sharing your and your mom’s stories. 💔🙏🏻
Thank you Chere for your heartfelt and kind words.
Annie, I’m, just getting caught up on last weekend’s emails and wishing this note weren’t so belated. I have heard you talk about your mom from the time I met you, and I have appreciated all your sharing as the journey with her progressed. As I live with my own dad’s long dementia decline, you have pointed out ways to find joy while also taking meaningful action - letting our parents inspire the best in us along the way. This series of small deaths, the long good bye, is a tiring challenge, but it also presents opportunities for growth and love. My dad was always heavy on the ‘right’ logical response to a situation, even those that called for the opposite style response. Now, the logic is usually unavailable, and he talks in the simplest and most heartfelt terms about how much he loves and appreciates us. Of course, this affection is often preceded by a lot of cussing and complaining about having to shower or dress in clean clothes - the disease speaks amid the love.
You and your mom are in my prayers - may you find many unexpected gifts among the experiences of grief. And how cool that a ‘spry’ old Franciscan monk did the graveside service! Sign me up for that.
Gratefully,
Tom
Hi Tom, it is so great to hear from you. I am sending so much love to you and your dad, and your whole family. I think you are paying attention to the right things, gleaning the unexpected moments of joy. But it is all so hard as you know. I am here for you.
Annie, I loved reading about your mother. I know she must have been so proud of you. You are doing such wonderful work to help spread the word that Brain Health can be achieved by eating delicious foods. My mother, too, is struggling with swiftly advancing Alzheimer's and it is a difficult journey for all to witness, especially as a daughter and caregiver. Your recipes and emails inspire me and fill me up with healthy food, which, I hope, will allow me and my family to not end up dealing with Alzheimer's down the road. Thank you! I wish you and your family peace.
Thank you Margaret, and I am so sorry to hear your mom is also suffering. My heart goes out to you.
What a beautiful tribute Annie. My heart goes out to you and aches for this loss. I can't imagine how painful it is to say goodbye to a person that meant so much to you. Sharing a quote that I hope brings you comfort: "The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life." Sending all of my love.
That's beautiful Brooke. Thanks you for the kind thoughts and words. xoxo
My deepest sympathy to you and your family, Annie.
What a strong, inspirational and admirable woman your mother was - seems you have inherited all these qualities from her.
She's also blessed to have had you as her daughter,
How lovely that you have these wonderful memories to keep her alive within you.
Warmest wishes to you.
Joanne
Thank you Joanne.
What a beautiful story. You were lucky to have had each other. 🤗💔
Thank you Susie.
We don't really know each other Annie, but I feel like I do, and I am sorry for you loss. Your mum would be immensely proud of you and all you do to help everyone understand, prevent, and manage brain health.
You are so kind, Nicola. Thank you.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family Dr.Annie Fenn on the passing of your beloved mother. May she rest in peace. She surely must have been an exceptional individual being the mother of such an incredible daughter. God bless you for sharing all your knowledge regarding cognitive health but I’m also most grateful for the memories you shared about your Mom.
Thank you Hope.
Dear Dr. Annie, I am so sorry sorry for your loss. Having met you just a few years into your brain health journey at Rancho, and joining you in that journey, I hope that your Mom is always remembered for being a catalyst for you to guide and teach, ultimatley thousands of people who will now be less likely to suffer the ravages of dementia and Alzheimer’s as they have adopted new and healthier ways of eating. My heart aches for you and hope that all of these wonderful memories and photos give you and your family comfort during such a hard time. Love Jill
Thank you so much Jillian! Missed you at the Ranch this year.