Inbox

A Lonely Disease

Thank you for shining a light on the disparity between Alzheimer's funding and that for heart disease and cancer ["Alzheimer's Unlocked," Oct. 25]. In a month when pink dominates everything from grocery stores to the NFL, Alzheimer's remains a disease with no hope, no cure, no survival rate and treatments that do little more than provide a "did all we could" feeling for its victims and their survivors.

Carrie Storm, CLINTON, N.Y.

My experience with men's and women's approaches to care has been the opposite of Patti Davis'. My husband has been the most caring, patient and attentive son to his confused mother--who doesn't remember me or her three grandchildren. It upsets me and my grown daughter to sit with her, yet my sons show the same gentleness as their father when they take their turn to care for her. I didn't think it was possible, but this difficult experience has caused me to love my husband more than ever as I observe his tireless care.

Berni Mobley, RALEIGH, N.C.

Davis is the first to express exactly how I felt the entire time I cared for my mother. Questions about why or how didn't matter. It was just important to be there, hug, kiss, love. And most important, to know that, as Davis writes, "beneath the surface of the disease is a soul ... that still wants to be heard." Her words brought tears to my eyes.

Linda Bradshaw Matz, DREXEL HILL, PA.

I enjoyed your articles and believe a breakthrough is a matter of time. But you didn't mention the unofficial bible for caregivers, The 36-Hour Day--an indispensable godsend when my wife developed Alzheimer's. I have since recommended it to many, all of whom were very grateful to learn of it.

Charlie Johnson, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

Support for Caregivers

Just a note of thanks to Nancy Gibbs for her Essay "The Coping Conundrum" [Oct. 25]. In 16 words near the end--"There is guilt and mystery and anger and fear embedded in a process driven by love"--she has described the very essence of the word caregiver.

Doug Andresen, DOWNERS GROVE, ILL.

The race for research dollars must be combined with more substantive ways to assist caregivers. We must not ignore the challenge of preventing one devastating epidemic from turning into another.

Maureen Shul, CASTLE PINES NORTH, COLO.

Not-So-Hot Shots

I was disheartened that TIME chose former Arizona state representative Kyrsten Sinema as one of 40 under-40 rising political stars [Oct. 25]. The National Federation of Independent Business gave her a 31% approval rating. The Arizona Capitol Times stated that during the 2009 legislative session, Sinema missed 140 votes, or failed to vote 40% of the time. A regular session in Arizona is five months. As a business owner, I can tell you that if any of my employees failed to show up for work 140 times in five months, they would be fired. Elected officials work for "We the People."

Carole V. Bartholomeaux, PHOENIX