losing her grandmother and mother to the disease. no matter how smart you think you are, how educated you might be, how much money you might have, there is nothing more helpless and nothing more alone than knowing that someone you love has this diagnosis. my mom started showing symptoms in her late 50s. by the time she was 63, larry, we had a diagnosis. ten years later she was gone. what was it like for you when she didn t know you? that s thecruellest moment. i m sure everyone would tell you the same thing. after she was diagnosed and i was home in north carolina helping her make the bed and i said, i can never get the corner of the bed as great as you do. she said, you re such a nice lady. what s your name? it is a stab to the heart, the likes of which i have never experienced before. leeza helped her father care