Leeza Gibbons' Mother Dies of Alzheimer's Disease
If you've heard of Leeza's Place, a sanctuary of education, services and support for caregivers, you know how much Gloria Jean Gibbons inspired its creation.Leeza Gibbons, the television and radio personality that got her start on Entertainment Tonight, started the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and her signature Leeza's Place after her mother, Gloria Jean, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1999. On Thursday, May 22, 2008 Leeza's mother died at the age of 72.
When Gloria Jean received her diagnosis, she asked her daughter to use her story of Alzheimer's to empower others with the disease as well as their caregivers. Leeza promised her mother that she would follow through on her wishes, and she has done so with unsurpassed compassion and dedication. I encourage you to check out Leeza's Place and see what it has to offer.
My thoughts are with Leeza and her family. I thank her for all that she has done, and all that I know she will continue to do, to help families facing Alzheimer's and other kinds of dementia.
Photo of Leeza and Gloria Jean Gibbons courtesy of Fifteen Minutes
Comments
My thoughts and prayers go out to Leeza and her family during this very difficult time. I used to live in Leeza’s hometown of Irmo, South Carolina. She and I have emailed one another . . . she has been a big support to me since my mother also suffers from the same illness and is in her last stage of the disease. I appreciate Leeza’s strength and willingess to share her own experiences with the public in an effort to help others deal with this horrible illness.
It’s inspiring when someone uses the hurts and tragedies of life and does something good with them for others.
Leeza’s Place will bring honor to her mother for yearsa and years to come.
~Carol O’Dell
Author of Mothering Mother
www.mothering-mother.com
My prayers go out to the entire Gibbons family. My own mother has had dementia for seven years now. The hardest thing I ever had to do was to place her in a care home
2 1/2 years ago.(I could no longer keep her safe at her own home.) I now not only struggle with watching her decline, but also have given up valuable time with my children that I can’t get back. I am torn on how to be a good mother, daughter and wife and still help out my 82 year old father who has lost his best friend. This disease has taken a toll on our entire family. I appreciate Leeza being so vocal on her own mothers illness. It truly is helping others to know that they are not alone.