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Josh and Bob’s Heartwarming Journey with Betty
Caring for TikTok Famous Mom Betty Pettit with Alzheimer’s Disease
Click here to listen to this podcast:
Josh Pettit’s family has a heartwarming story of lifelong love and companionship. Bob and Betty, high school sweethearts from the Buffalo, New York area, met as fifth-graders and began dating in 1955. Betty became a devoted stay-at-home mom to their three sons, with Josh being the youngest, while Bob worked as a civil engineer.
After Bob’s retirement, the couple decided to travel around and live the RV life, enjoying the warm sunshine in Florida. But Betty’s health soon took a turn for the worse. She was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery, followed by the discovery of kidney cancer, requiring the removal of one-third of her kidneys. She also had a hip replacement and a few other medical procedures, which Josh believes may have sped up the onset of her Alzheimer’s disease. (See note below)
To ensure that Betty receives consistent medical care, Bob and Betty moved in with their youngest son Josh in North Carolina. It was a big change for the family, but they knew it was the right decision. Over time, they began to notice Betty’s memory loss, a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. The family came together to provide the best care possible for Betty, with Josh taking on an increasingly important role in her daily care.
Here’s a video of Betty with her puppy!
In this podcast, Josh shares with us the journey of caring for his mother Betty, including the challenges and joys of having his parents living with him, and how they manage to provide daily care for Betty. It’s a touching story of love, family, and dedication to a loved one in need. Click the play button above to listen to the full podcast and learn more about their heartwarming journey.
If you or anyone you know needs help, reach out to resources like Teepa Snow (www.TeepaSnow.com) or the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org).
Note:
There is growing evidence to suggest that anesthesia may accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in some individuals. Anesthesia is a type of medication used to induce a state of unconsciousness or sedation during medical procedures. While anesthesia is generally considered safe for most people, there is concern about its potential impact on brain health, particularly in those with preexisting cognitive impairment.
Studies have shown that anesthesia can trigger the accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. These proteins can clump together to form plaques, which can disrupt the communication between brain cells and ultimately lead to cognitive decline. Anesthesia can also cause inflammation in the brain, which can further exacerbate the damage caused by beta-amyloid plaques. This inflammation can also trigger the release of free radicals, which can damage brain cells and promote cognitive decline.
A 2018 study published in the journal Neurology found that people who underwent surgery with general anesthesia were more likely to develop dementia within three years compared to those who didn’t have surgery. Another study published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy found that exposure to anesthesia was associated with increased beta-amyloid accumulation in the brains of mice. While these studies do not definitively prove a causal relationship between anesthesia and Alzheimer’s disease, they do suggest a potential link.
It’s important to note that not everyone who undergoes anesthesia will experience cognitive decline or accelerated progression of Alzheimer’s disease. However, for those with preexisting cognitive impairment or a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, it may be wise to consider alternative approaches to anesthesia or to closely monitor cognitive function following a medical procedure.
Overall, more research is needed to fully understand the link between anesthesia and Alzheimer’s disease progression. In the meantime, it’s important for individuals and their healthcare providers to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of anesthesia and to take steps to minimize any potential cognitive impacts.
References:
- Sprung J, Roberts RO, Weingarten TN, et al. Postoperative delirium in elderly patients is associated with subsequent cognitive impairment. Br J Anaesth. 2017;119(2):316-323.
- Newcombe V, Blanchard M, Cogan J, et al. Evidence of altered postoperative brain functional connectivity following general anesthesia: A systematic review. Front Syst Neurosci. 2020;14:57.
- Wei H, Xie Z. Anesthesia, calcium homeostasis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Neural Regen Res. 2016;11(2):319-321.
- Hovens IB, van Leeuwen BL, Mariani MA, et al. Surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients with colorectal cancer. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015;63(2):321-328.
- Han X, Li J, Wang Y, et al. The role of volatile anesthetics in the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction – a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0223909.
- Huang LK, Chao SP, Hu CJ. Clinical considerations of general anesthesia in patients with dementia. Front Med (Lausanne). 2019;6:45.
- Wu X, Lu Y, Dong Y, et al. The inhalation of anesthetic isoflurane increases levels of proinflammatory TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Neurobiol Aging. 2012;33(7):1364-1378.
- Zhang X, Dong H, Li N, et al. Activation of microglia contributes to anesthesia-induced cognitive impairment.
About Marianne Bailey:
Marianne here, the Owner of OnlineTechLessons and the Publisher and Editor of The Hip Senior. With a passion for helping people stay connected and informed in the ever-changing digital landscape, my focus is on our flagship magazine, directory, and podcast, The Hip Senior. Our directory connects seniors with businesses that respect their needs, while our podcast features expert interviews on a wide range of topics. For more information on our services or advertising opportunities, feel free to reach out to me at marianne@thehipsenior.com. Let's connect and help our community thrive.
Hi my name is Christa Divine I live in North Carolina in an RV with my husband. I really am so glad for the awareness your family is bringing to Alzheimer’s my father in law suffered for 10 years with this. Matt and I and his mom took care of him. This was in 1997 very challenging to say the least. Thank you so very much for sharing your beautiful mother with us. My thoughts and prayers are with you all daily.
This is MY FAVORITE family. I am going through a hard time with my family and just seeing how much love Betty is receiving from Josh and Bob brings life to my situation. Her smile is EVERYTHING!!!
My mom had dementia and then was diagnosed with kidney cancer very advanced….they told us that when she has the surgery because of the anesthesia it most likely will advance the dementia even further,and unfortunately it did.my heart goes out to you and family dealing with this, but at this point she is home with you. When we had to put my mom in a home it was devastating, she was so angry with us and cried the first time we left. The next day when we went back to see her, she actually thought she had moved to a new apartment and that’s what we went with. Just know you are doing a great job and looking out for her best interest. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not!
It is so heart breaking to know parents has Alzheimer’s!!!
I know how Josh feels, Knowing he is loosing his mother!!
Josh with all you do for you’re parents!!
You are amazing.. prayers are with all of you Josh!!
Josh, I cared for both my Dad, then Mom, with ALZ for 16 years.
Mom ALWAYS wanted to go home, even if she was. There was no comforting her.
And the bathing…. she was a nurse & took a bath every night. I’d say her first symptom was not wanting to bathe. In Assisted living, she’d come up with the most creattive excuses to not shower.
And the twilight hours between 4pm & bedtime were when behaviors got the worst. Therefore, that’s when I stayed with her. She’d try to brush her teeth 10 times in a row. I remember she came out of the bathroom & said ” now what do I do?”.
God bless you on your journey. My Dad had medical issues & did not exhibit many odd behaviors. He once wanted to go for a ride in his truck, me driving, in his underwear. He also passed out before we got out of the driveway. Off he went to the ER with EMS.
MOM, unfortunately, got rather mean as she progressed. Slapping visitors,screaming at us, etc. She was exhausting at times. Other times she constantly slept & I knew I had to get her up.
She loved crossword puzzles. Over a 3 year period, I’d watch her deterioration by looking at her daily puzzle. Towards the end she’d scribble one or two words. Very sad.
God bless you & your parents.
Kim
I lost my husband with on coming Alzheimer’s. He had breathing issues and copd and it the hardest thing to lose them before they’re gone. He was on oxygen for two years. And in the end he wasn’t sleeping. I was physically and mentally wore out. My kids were their for the last five days. I couldn’t of gotten through losing him without them.
Don’t forget she had cancer and probably chemo and radiation. That also causes Chemo brain or fog that also can contribute to the early onset of Alzheimer’s/dementia. It did that to my mom
Aww 🥰 Betty has been through a lot. Bless her heart, she’s a tough cookie, and so sweet. I so love your videos. May God guide and keep you in his path. Sending love ❤️ hugs 🤗 and prayers🙏 Your prayer warrior Helen
HOME to her means she wants to go BACK. BAck to when she remembered things back to when she felt safe etc. Its the ONLY way they know how to communicate this. Please please please know this. HOME TO her is pre Alzheimer’s. You can go from confusion on your end to Understanding and will be able to address that much easier. To say she is home means nothing to her for that isn’t what she is trying to get across. God bless all of you. My Mom died from Alz because I wasnt able to be with her and heal her. YES YES YES many have healed. Go to Amazon and research the cures from those who have done this. Big thing is Omega3 fatty acids. Put organic coconut oil in everything she eats, and you will see that sadness and tears dimished greatly. It does work.
This happened to my grandmother after knee replacement and then an emergency bowel surgery. She went in knowing me and came of surgery not remembering who I was. She died a few years later in a Alzheimer’s unit in a nursing home.
I admire Bob and Josh for doing a great job I love Miss Betry
I kust love this family. I lost my granddad, dad and uncle ti Alzheimers. The live this son and husband show to Betty is so very beautiful. God bless them and their journey.
I followed them on TikTok and thoroughly enjoyed this podcast.