Donor Spotlight: Finding Hope and Healing by Ann Forrestall

Donor Spotlight: Finding Hope and Healing

By Ann Forrestall

I was drawn to ARPF as a result of my beloved husband, John, diagnosed in 2019 at the age of 73. He had shown subtle signs of memory lapses for years. Despite his intelligence, active lifestyle, and my own family history with the disease, we, along with his doctors, dismissed the early signs.

Retirement, initially a time of shared joy, became shadowed by the growing concern for John’s well-being. For a couple of years, I taught some studio classes in Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, and Restorative Yoga. Later when home life and caregiving became more unpredictable, I stopped teaching regularly. We both embraced Tai Chi in hopes of maintaining our physical and mental vitality. By 2018, the subtle lapses had become undeniable, leading to a neuropsychiatric evaluation and the devastating Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

John and Ann at their wedding in 1993.

We faced the diagnosis with resolve, traveling and organizing our affairs, but the isolation imposed by the 2020 pandemic amplified the challenges. While I sought solace and information online, the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (ARPF) emerged as a beacon of hope.

ARPF’s holistic approach, grounded in scientific research, resonated deeply. When I saw the Brain Longevity Therapy Training, and that it was geared to not only medical and complementary service providers, but to yoga teachers, I knew I wanted to complete the program. It gave me so much to apply to my daily life as a whole person, wife, and caregiver. And to share and apply it with John, even if he didn’t realize I was doing so.

BLTT provided me with invaluable tools to support John and myself. The “4 Pillars” of brain health—diet, stress management, exercise, and spiritual fitness—became a framework for our daily lives.

ARPF’s emphasis on lifestyle interventions, particularly the Kirtan Kriya meditation, stood in stark contrast to the often ineffective and risky pharmaceutical approaches. This simple, 12-minute practice offered a powerful way to nurture mind, body, and spirit.

Ann and John celebrated their anniversary in 2022.

In the fall of 2023, John’s health took a dramatic turn. He went from raking leaves all day and going out to dinner on Friday to landing in the hospital that Sunday. The doctors revealed a COVID-19 diagnosis, atrial fibrillation, and a stroke, accelerating his cognitive decline. He moved to a memory care facility in March 2024, where he received compassionate care. Tragically, a fall in August led to more complications and he passed away on August 31, 2024.

I organized a successful Facebook fundraiser before John’s passing and designated the ARPF, alongside the Wounded Warrior Project, as a recipient of memorial donations. John was very proud of his 4 years in the Army and generous with Veterans’ charities. The outpouring of support from friends and family, honoring John’s memory with contributions to the ARPF, was deeply moving.

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ARPF is humbled to honor John’s legacy and be a resource to the many who are going through this journey. We are thankful to Ann for being part of our community and empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to prevent and manage Alzheimer’s disease.

Thank you, Ann, for your support and fostering hope for a future free from Alzheimer’s.