Proud Moment

The other day Courtney went back to the High School to help Brandon with his backpack after school. As she waited in the hall while Brandon took his make-up test, she was approached by another student. She had seen him when she went there, but it wasn't someone she was friends with. This young man came up to her and said he had seen our article in Newsday. He began talking about it and soon explained that his 48 year old mother was JUST diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. He was reaching out to her, even if it was in a small way. I'm sure it took courage for him to approach her and I am very proud with the way she handled it. She proved that the apple does NOT fall far from the tree. She explained to him about a group the school has for students with extenuating circumstances. When Courtney began High School, she was the only student in the group with a parent with Alzheimer's (the rest were students of divorced parents, siblings with disabilities etc.) She directed this boy to that group - which sadly enough will now have 3 members. Three students in a school of 2,000 is scary. The percentages are rising in every community. This high school senior began telling Courtney that he had to hurry to get his driver's license since it was apparent that his mom would soon not be capable of driving. Courtney ended the conversation by reminding him that Brandon still attended the school and that if he needed anything, he should seek him out.

I was proud of Courtney for helping this young man. I was happy that this young man reached out to Courtney because he had seen our story in Newsday. It may have been the connection he needed to help him not feel so alone. We were once again pleased that our story was able to help someone else. Mission accomplished.