Diagnosis: Alzheimer's: My Travels with Frances - Tapa blanda

This is the story of two people, Melvin and Frances, who met while young, fell in love, and married. They raised three sons, enjoyed a loving, warm, and close family life. They traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, and the United States. They were blessed with good health and suffered only minor aches and pains during their middle and early senior years. However, Frances began to have memory problems almost concurrent with turning 80 years of age. An early diagnosis by the family physician and a neurologist identified the symptoms as minor cognitive impairment (MCI). In subsequent years the diagnosis was changed to "Alzheimer's disease". This is the story of the impact on Frances, Melvin, and the immediate family in dealing with this incurable disease.

Melvin R. Bielawski, a World War II veteran, was drafted into the U.S. Army in May, 1945. Subsequent to his infantry training he was ordered to Germany in November, 1945.While on leave in Berchtesgaden, Germany, in July, 1946, he met his future wife Frances, a native of Berchtesgaden, at Koenigsee a mountain lake in Bavaria. They were one of the first American/German couples to be married in Germany after the United States Army lifted the non-fraternization and wedding bans on January 1, 1947, between American military personnel and German nationals. Mr. Bielawski married Frances Mary Ponn on August 25, 1947. Subsequent to their U.S. Army sponsored honeymoon at Lake Chiemsee and the Predigstuhl in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, Mr. and Mrs. Bielawski traveled together from Berchtesgaden, Germany, to Mr. Bielawski's home town Toledo, Ohio. Following his military discharge in late 1947, Mr. Bielawski attended the University of Toledo (UT) under the WW II G. I. Bill of Rights. He majored in Industrial Management (BBA). In 1950 he was employed by the Army a the Rossford Ordnance Depot until July, 1957, when he accepted a position in Germany. He had various assignments and promotions during his employment in Germany. In May. 1965, he accepted a position in the Pentagon . While employed by the Department of Defense in the Washington area, including the Pentagon and Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, he attended George Washington University and received his M.S. in Public and Government Administration. He retired from the Department of Defense in 1982. Subsequent to his Federal Government service, Mr. Bielawski was employed by several Defense contractors providing technical support and later established his own business providing consulting services to Defense contractors. He is the author of several books, both fiction and non-fiction.