Testimonial - Short Term Memory Issues

Mae’s Story
by Duane C. Sommers • Spokane Valley, Washington

My dear wife of 55 years, Mae, began to exhibit short-term memory loss; right around the time we celebrated our 50th anniversary in June 2003. After months of unsatisfactory, the ONLY respite from her decline has come as she began to use STEM ENHANCE products. Let me share the story in a chronological manner.

Shortly after that anniversary milestone, Mae’s symptoms began to cause a lot of concern and frustration, as she began to wander from our home to smell our neighbor’s flowers, but continue down the block, forgetting to return home. I would discover her missing and have to begin a search, sometimes involving the local police.

Later that same year, I was elected to a four-year term in Spokane County, having won partially because of my 12 years as a State Representative. As County Assessor, my schedule was more defined, and I’d leave for the office by 8 am. While Mae had no problems with my earlier public service, she began to exhibit an anxiety level totally foreign to her previous personality. Mae began calling the office several times a day to ask when I would come home. She would not recall having phoned, so often would repeat the same calls several times a day.

During my time as Assessor, Mae lost her ability to cook simple meals or even use the telephone. My level of frustration began to escalate, as I was becoming a full-time caregiver while serving as a public servant! So, after much deliberation and prayer, I resigned early in order to be able to care for Mae in our home. Even then, whenever an outside function required my attendance, I would have to find a place for her care or take her with me. By mid 2007, it became obvious that I had to find a different living situation, and so we sold our home and moved into a retirement community.

With assisted living, we now had three meals a day, which freed me from having to cook and clean, and left me with a sense of relief. However, that joy in retirement was short-lived, when, while attending a brief meeting in the building, the staff informed me that Mae was missing. We contacted two city police departments to search a four-mile area to no avail. A helicopter search finally found her about five miles away, near a place she’d lived over 60 years ago! The next day, and for her own protection, we began to live separately: Mae in a secure Memory Care wing, and me in a smaller apartment in another building. 

Mae has always been very sociable, so she soon found several friends in Memory care. She introduced me to one by saying, “This is Barbara; she’s my daughter.” Her friend interrupted Mae with, “No, I’m not your daughter! You are my daughter!” 

The caring staff worked hard at keeping Mae safe, warm, well fed, and busy with activities. They threw a beach ball around, played bingo, and went on weekly outings. Although Mae seemed happy, all this attention did not improve her condition. On the contrary, Mae soon appeared to mirror the same decline as all the other people in that part of the facility. She napped much of the time, and as she relaxed, (with prescribed drugs) she became incontinent.

We met with Mae’s physician frequently, trying each of the five drugs he recommended for her condition. As the doctor went successively from one drug to another, none worked to decrease her symptoms. In fact, all Mae experienced from each of the drugs was the side effects: nausea, headache, and vomiting!

Last winter, we heard reports of individuals in our area who were experiencing amazing success with a new, natural, break-through product called Stem Enhance. A friend and distributor helped us review a DVD narrated by Christian Drapeau, scientist, researcher, and developer of STEM ENHANCE. We became convinced that we should begin a Stem Enhance regimen as soon as possible. But, faced some unexpected hurdles before we could begin!

Because Mae is a resident in Memory Care, the staff informed us they required two things: a prescription for at least six capsules a day, AND a shrink-wrap for her daily capsules (so staff would know what frequency and dosage they needed to administer.) Mae’s primary doctor had several other patients who had been helped by STEM ENHANCE, so he willingly prescribed the six capsules for Mae’s daily regimen. Finally, on January 1, 2008, Mae began to take two capsules at each of her three daily meals. We were surprised and thrilled to see that improvement came so quickly!

Within one week:
    •    Mae was no longer incontinent during the day or night!
Within one month:
    •    Mae could concentrate enough to play bingo!
    • She could perform the “five finger exercise,” where she touches her thumb with each finger successively, both directions.
    •    Mae began to stay awake more during the day and sleep through the night, without out getting up to use the bathroom or wander the halls.
    •    She stayed awake during our 5-mile drive to church and told me how to drive. (That delighted me more than you can imagine!)
    •    Prior to STEM ENHANCE, I’d have to wake her in the church parking lot. Once in the pew, she’d fall asleep. Now she stays awake!
    •    Mae began to make jokes with others, something she has not done for years!
    •    She began to actually enjoy the daily exercise classes, and simply felt better than she had for many months.
Within two months:
    •    Now Mae began to express thoughts about the future! She talked about moving from Memory Care and purchasing a new home.
    •    The following is very poignant for me:  One evening, after our usual shared dinner, Mae asked, “Why don’t you stay with me tonight? I didn’t marry you so you could leave me and live by yourself each night!” As I shared before, I live at the same facility, but in an adjacent building.
    •    Friends who know Mae often remarked that they saw a remarkable improvement in her countenance and demeanor!
Within three months:   
    For the past 20 years, Mae and I have traveled to Montana for a week at our time-share condo. Compared to our last vacation, which always happens during the 12th week, this year’s trip was a miracle! Last year she complained during the entire four-hour drive, and did not recognize the condo. “I’ve never in my life been here, and I want to go home now!”  The disaster continued to unfold as I tried to explain how she would enjoy the hot tub, side trips, and eating in restaurants. She was as tired as I was, and in no mood to negotiate:  “If you don’t take me home right now, I’m going to walk home,” and Mae headed for the door. Somehow, I got between her and the door and pushed a table to block it. I called our daughter, who also tried to soothe her mother. Finally, after much cajoling, Mae reluctantly agreed to go to bed, but only if I would return home in the morning. 

    This year, Mae had been taking STEM ENHANCE for only two and a half months at the time of our annual trip. The same trip was delightful. We stopped for lunch at a fine restaurant, enjoyed a leisurely drive to the Montana condo, stopping to watch and count the deer grazing in a pasture. Upon arrival, I asked Mae if she remembered the apartment. She answered, in an off-hand manner, “Oh, sure!” We watched television and retired without incident. The next day we contacted relatives who live in the area. They joined us for coffee after Mae and I had enjoyed a wonderful Easter dinner. Mae enjoyed the dinner and conversation. Her mood remained pleasant, as it had been for all of our earlier Montana vacations. For me, the trip was a wonderful contrast to the disaster of the previous year.

After five years of living with the heartbreak of my spouse’s condition and all that comes with those issues, I can only conclude: There is HOPE for those with memory loss! STEM ENHANCE causes the Stem Cells to move out of ones bone marrow into the blood stream, where they circulate throughout the body, repairing and replacing cells that need help. Now, after witnessing Mae’s response to STEM ENHANCE of the past three months, I know that even brain cells can be helped!

This article was written by Duane Sommers, Wanda Mae’s husband.
They can be contacted at 509-747-2243 or at 511 S. Park Rd. #321, Spokane Valley, WA  99212