Sandra Day O’Connor, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, is married to a husband who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is known to be a deadly disease which slowly destroys the mind over time. One of the most common and devastating symptoms is the loss of memory.
One example would be if your parent develops that symptom. Not only does Alzheimer’s disease affect the one that has the symptoms, it affects everybody around and close to that person. In O’Connor’s case, her husband has been afflicted with this devastating disease that deteriorates the mind.
In front of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, O’Connor pleaded her case. She explains her husband John is not in very good shape. She retired back in 2005 when her husband had to go into assisted care. For most of the time, she has kept private and secretive about it. Now, O’Connor has spoken publicly on the matter.
There is a note of irony. Her husband had a romance with another Alzheimer patient. But, O’Connor had not felt any jealously and anger. Her son, Scott O’Connor explains that his mother is excited to see her husband happy and in a state of piece.
Also, O’Connor gave praise to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. It has passed back in April. Under that act, it would be illegal for employers and insurance companies to discriminate based off of genetic information.
The insurance companies would neither be allowed to deny health coverage nor adjust the premiums to determine eligibility towards the applicants.
Employers would not be allowed to use the same data for hiring, firing, assigning, demoting, and promoting of employees.
Currently, there are over 5 million in America that suffer from this disease. It is predicted that the figure will triple or quadruple by 2050. So far, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. It can be treated. But, the treatments only help to ease and alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.