Bellaire Sons of Italy Donates To Alzheimer’s Research
Trending
For six years, Phil Pata watched as Alzheimer's disease slowly took his wife away from him.
Looking forward to a day when families won't have to deal with that pain anymore, Pata and his fellow Bellaire Sons of Italy members donated $1,000 to the Alzheimer's Association during a check presentation held Wednesday at the lodge.
Pata and Larry Seibieda gave Helen Paes, a community development coordinator with the association's Youngstown office, the money that was raised during a golf scramble held in June. Seibieda also gave a personal donation of $100.
The national Sons of Italy's goal is to help support research related to Alzheimer's disease, which impacts the brain, and Cooley's anemia, which is a blood disease.
For Pata, the cause is near and dear to his heart, as his wife, Vivian, died from complications caused by Alzheimer's last year. He was her caregiver for six years as the disease progressed. He noted she was able to stay home for most of the time, except at the end when she had to be moved into a nursing facility.
Pata said his wife's illness never progressed to the point that she did not recognize her four children, something that happens to some Alzheimer's patients.
"She had the type where you lose your appetite and you starve to death," Pata said. "She got down to 86 pounds. We put her in a nursing home and eight days later she was gone. She couldn't eat anymore. We tried to give her all kinds of food that was like mush. She said she didn't have an appetite."
Pata said Alzheimer's changed some aspects of his wife's personality and habits. For example, she had always loved Dutch apple pie from Mehlman's Cafeteria, but one day he found it in the garbage. And she had always wanted people to take their shoes off before entering the house, but one day she decided to start wearing them inside herself. She even had a spare pair on the second floor.
Pata said they were married for 62 years and dated for five years prior while he was in college and then the military.
For those who are caring for a person with Alzheimer's, Pata said people should try and remember to be patient with their loved one who is suffering with the disease.
"That's the most important thing. There are going to be changes every day, every month and every year," Pata said. "You have to give your best. With me I had to give up golfing because I didn't want to leave her alone. A couple of times I called my neighbor because you go golfing four or five hours away," Pata said.
Paes added if there is not a breakthrough for a cure in Alzheimer's research, the association estimates there will be millions more people and caregivers suffering from the disease by 2050. She noted, to date, medicine available only eases symptoms, but does not actually slow progression of the disease.
The association offers a helpline for caregivers that is available 24 hours a day by calling 866-403-3073.
Pata noted the Sons of Italy has held its golf tournament for the past 18 years with proceeds going to the state level for charity. But this year, the group wanted to donate directly to the association.
Seibieda added the organization, located at 3348 Belmont St., Bellaire, is continuing to celebrate its 100th anniversary. As part of this, the organization is holding public pasta dinners from 4-7 p.m. on Thursdays.