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Bob Wood speaks out about Alzheimer's

'When people ask me how I am doing, I tell them I still know who I am so I am okay, and I am'
20200123 alzheimers awareness proclamation
Mayor Al McDonald reads a proclamation for Alzheimer's Awareness month in North Bay. Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.

The City of North Bay held a flag-raising ceremony this morning to recognize Alzheimer's Awareness month within the city. 

Mayor Al McDonald read the proclamation and says his family has been impacted by the disease. 

"It is a devastating disease when you rob the memory from an individual and not knowing who their family is along with loved ones," said McDonald.  

"We went through it. Today is an opportunity for us to raise the flag and proclaim it Alzheimer's month in the City of North Bay and all the great people that provide the services to our families and we encourage everyone to see the person and not the disease and be compassionate." 

McDonald was joined by Bob Wood at the ceremony.  However, the well-known politician and radio host has an even more personal connection to Alzheimer's as he was diagnosed with the disease himself less than two years ago. 

"The thing is people do not know how to react when they see me," said Wood, who turns 80 in March.   

"A lot of people know me and I don't know them but it doesn't matter." 

Wood still jokes around - even about the disease.  When someone is giving him a hard time at the coffee shop he will tell them that one day he will forget who they are. 

Bob says he is still the same Bob that many in the area have known to love. 

"When people ask me how I am doing, I tell them I still know who I am so I am okay, and I am," he chuckled with his big cheerful laugh. 

"It is an interesting disease and the interesting part was my dad got diagnosed with Alzheimer's the very same age that I did."

Wood still has his driver's license and is comfortable venturing out onto the streets of North Bay.  However, he admits driving to Ottawa to see his brother may be a challenge now as he admits he may get lost on the busy streets of Ottawa.  

Stephanie Leclair, Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts, believes Wood is a tremendous ambassador for them. 

"Of course, we call Bob our champion because the misconception is that people think that it only has one effect on people - only memory - but it does not," explained Leclair

"Alzheimer's and other related Dementia's effect on all kinds of things in people's lives but Bob shows really that, at the beginning stages you can live great with Dementia. You have to adapt some of your lifestyles but that is okay. I have known Bob for two years now and he has been a great champion for us and he shows people, you can keep living and keep active in your day to day life." 

Leclair says medications like the ones Bob Wood is taking, slow down the onset of the disease, but she believes the holistic approach works too. 

"Like Bob remaining active in your life, socially, physically and cognitively will help slow the progression of the disease so we need so much more awareness for funds around research because again, we need to find a cure but in the meantime, we need to find better treatments as well," she said. 

As for Wood, he continues to try and keep a positive attitude.  

"It is certainly different than in my previous life I lived, but hey, I get along," he said.  

"I take a pill every day. It does not get rid of it but it does slow it down and so far that pill has been working. I don't think there is a cure for it so that is the sad part about it." 

According to Alzheimer's Society statistics, over half a million Canadians are living with dementia today, excluding the thousands of family members who provide direct care. In the next 12 years, it is projected that nearly a million Canadians will be living with this disease.


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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