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When Sandra Day O 'Connor was first informed of her diagnosis of dementia, "she did not want to believe it," said her youngest son, Jay, at "CBS This Morning". O 'Connor, the first female judge at the US Supreme Court, retired in 2006 to take care of her husband after diagnosing her Alzheimer's disease. On Tuesday she ad that she too is suffering from dementia and will no longer be able to participate in public life.
"All her life, she overcame so many obstacles, and I think she thought:" I could just manage to get through that. "And it turns out that you can not really fight dementia and Alzheimer's disease," said Jay O. Connor on Thursday.
Jay stated that his mother is confined to a wheelchair but still recognizes him and is in "good" condition in his assisted living community in Phoenix.
"She loves to entertain visitors, enjoys having family, enjoys hearing the latest news from grandchildren and what they're preparing for, and so you can have a wonderful conversation with her. … The short-term memory is a challenge these days, "said Jay.
When it comes to dementia and Alzheimer's disease, the burden on family and caregivers can be hard – but Jay said the family is "fine".
"My mother is not only a national treasure, she's a family treasure, so it's hard for all of us to see her go through it, it's a progressive disease, it's getting worse over time," Jay said. . "But my mother has managed everything with grace and dignity and, you know, we are so proud of everything she has done in her life and of what she is as a person. honored to be able to help her in this time, when she needs help, just as she was a caregiver for our father. "
Jay said it was important for O & Connor that she could be open about her condition.
"She wanted to share the news herself and be transparent, which is a problem that many people have and she thought it would be useful to disseminate it to the public," she said. he declares.
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