Meet Lynne
Lynne Russell
Lynne charmed me from the moment of her birth with her combination of dynamic energy and intuitive sensitivity. She began her career by recruiting computer programmers for Microsoft and progressed to recruiting senior program managers for the Gates Foundation. She changed careers to become a special education elementary teacher in low-income districts. She quit when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the rare age of 51, a divorcée with three teenage sons, one in high school and twins in college. The twins dropped out of college to help care for her at home. She moved into assisted living at the age of 52 with a mission to help staff care for the other residents who were two decades older than she.
A Little More About Me
Jim Russell
Together, they show that healing means honoring the past while embracing new beginnings.
I was married to my dear wife, Karen, for 55 years and we had two daughters and a son. Raised in Illinois, I’m a retired community college dean with experience in business, education and community service in Michigan and Oregon. When I retired, Karen and I moved from Oregon to Wenatchee, Washington, expecting a long, travelling sort of retirement with as much community service as we could muster. And so it began but it was to change drastically. Lynne received her diagnosis, my wife died of pancreatic cancer — leaving me as primary caregiver — and then I had prostate cancer. A very different retirement, indeed. But the care I gave and received with Lynne transformed me from a remote father to an intimate Dad, moving me much closer, perhaps, to being the best dad in the galaxy. My life’s motto is, “What does the Lord require of you, O Man, but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God?”
Meet Carol, Honoring Our Loves Past and Present
Carol Russell
Carol had been widowed for a couple of years when we first met in an online dating app. She waited three days before revealing in our chats that she was a retired Episcopal priest with hospice experience. No wonder she knew my life’s motto was a quote from the Bible! No other woman I had met online had ever even mentioned it. The next day I suggested we would be a powerful pair to spread our messages of caring. She said, “I’m all in.” We had our first date the next Saturday. We quickly fell in love and Lynne loved Carol’s fun-loving care during her last 18 months. Carol was married for 50 years and has two sons, one of whom is also a priest. In addition to being a priest herself, including serving as a hospice chaplain, she has been a museum director, award winning columnist, a downtown development director, and a noted colored pencil artist. She honors the memory of Lynne and my mission to support other dementia caregivers. Together we became certified Alzheimer’s Educators and have spread love, understanding, and support in presentations at senior centers, churches, and assisted living facilities. We look forward to sharing ideas on our website and promoting this book .
Their Story
A Family Tree
Lynne had twin boys in 1997 and her 3rd in 2002. Her brother has two girls. Sister is married with no children.
Dad and Mom had three children: Lynne, a younger brother and her youngest sister.
Dad’s mother developed Alzheimer’s before she was 65, but wasn’t diagnosed until she moved in with Dad’s family.