Former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms has been diagnosed with vascular dementia -- a condition that is in many wys similar to Alzheimers disease.

Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, in increasingly poor health before and since he left office three years ago, has vascular dementia and has moved into a convalescent center near his home, his wife said.

"He has his good days and his bad days," Dot Helms, told The News & Observer for a story Sunday. "He still sees friends. Company is good for him. He is still signing books. But he is not able to conduct any business or make any speeches."

The 84-year-old Republican has been slowed by illnesses including a bone disorder, prostate cancer and heart problems. As his career neared its end, he made his way through the Capitol on a motorized scooter. He decided against seeking a sixth term and left Congress in January 2003.

Vascular dementia is considered one of the most common types of dementia in aging people, with symptoms that may appear similar to those caused by Alzheimer's disease, according to the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California-San Francisco.

Helms' last major public appearance was in September, when he was honored by a group of conservatives in Washington.

Helms' wife of 63 years said that she and friends visit him daily, and that he hopes to resume going to church.

"His manners are always intact," Dot Helms said. "He is very gracious when people come to see him. He is his same self in a lot of ways. He just doesn't always remember."

So what we have here is a major personal tragedy, and a family taking the tragedy and using it to bring the disease into wider attention -- quite similar to the Reagan family's decision with the Ronald Reagan's long struggle with Alzheimers. This decision by the Helms family is a courageous one by a decent man and his family.

Which is, of course, why you get responses loke this from left-wing low-lifes.

it's just too easy

so I'm not even going to say anything other than to include this link:

Jesse Helms has dementia.

and

Hands up, those of you who feel ANY surprise whatsoever. Anyone?...

and

Jesse Helms has dementia

I have no idea why this is being presented as news, anyone with North Carolina connections has known this for years.

Then there is this.

Former Republican Sen. Jesse Helms has dementia. He left Congress in January of 2003. If he had not been a conservative Republican he might have got it treated sooner. It is hard to tell if someone just has dementia or if they are a right wing Republican.

I'm sure we will get similar classy responses from the KOSsacks and the DUmmies in a very short time, along with the rest of the left-wing hate squad.

UPDATE: The DUmmies have made a start.

Posted by: Greg at 02:30 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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