Memory Loss Archives - Page 2 of 2 - StoryCorps

Gweneviere Mann and Yasir Salem

Gweneviere Mann lost her short-term memory following surgery to remove a brain tumor. With the support of her boyfriend, Yasir Salem, Gweneviere found she could tackle the challenges her condition threw her way—and a few more.

At StoryCorps, Gweneviere and Yasir talked about how they’ve learned to navigate life in a new way, together.

Just a few weeks after their interview—and two days after their story was broadcast— Gweneviere and Yasir ran the 2011 New York City Marathon. They took a photo at the finish line, at left.

Click here to watch “Marking the Distance,” a StoryCorps animation of Gweneviere and Yasir’s story.

Originally aired November 4, 2011, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Robert Patterson and Karen Patterson

Bob Patterson worked as an aerospace engineer for over 30 years. In 2008, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. His wife, Karen, has been by his side all along. In this conversation, Bob tells her how living with the disease has affected him.

Originally aired August 27, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Florence Newman and her daughter Audrey

Audrey Newman (R) talks with her mother, Florence (L) who has Alzheimer’s, about her father, Joe Newman.

Gwen Richards

Gwen Richards remembers her mother, Helen, who had Alzheimer’s.

Seymour Gottlieb and Marcia Gottlieb

Seymour and Marcia Gottlieb talk about their 60-year relationship and how it has changed over the years from employer-employee to one where Seymour says, “The longer I know her, the more I appreciate her. Cause she’s my pal, she’s my best friend.”

Originally aired on June 5, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

Anna and Mary Wise

Anna Wise, 96, tells her daughter Mary about marrying her childhood sweetheart, Joseph Wise. After nearly 60 years of marriage, Joseph lost a leg to diabetes and later died from complications related to the disease.

Originally aired January 18, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Charles Jackson

Charles Jackson remembers the day he and his brother were told their mother had Alzheimer’s disease, and how he then became her caregiver. At 50, Charles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and he discusses the toll that has taken on his family.

Originally aired November 30, 2007, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Jo Ann and Bob Chew

Jo Ann Chew, who has Alzheimer’s disease, talks with her husband, Bob, about how they met, their life together, and how they are coping with her diagnosis. Jo Ann’s one regret is “Just not having control of…my thoughts and my actions. And I don’t think it’s fair to you, either.”

Originally aired February 9, 2007, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Priya Morganstern, Ken Morganstern, and Bhavani Jaroff

Five years after Ken Morganstern was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he sat down with his daughters, Priya Morganstern (left) and Bhavani Jaroff (right), to talk about some of the memories he had left.

At 81, he couldn’t see and he needed some prompting from time to time, but family stayed strong in his memory.

Priya asked him if he wished he had gotten anything in life that he didn’t get. “I have no regrets on anything,” he responded. “I have a family that I love. And they’re loving people.”

This interview was first broadcast in 2006 and Ken died in 2007.

His daughters say they listen to the original interview often. “I think my father had the opportunity to say what was important in his life,” Bhavani says. “And it really came down to love.”

Originally aired November 17, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.