Someone so special that I have to share his story with you.
I was holding my husband last night when he took his last breath. He left this earth at 10:55 pm (June 19, 2020 with acute pulmonary edema) after a week of declining health. No, it was not the Covid-19. It was after 21 years of fighting heart disease and resulting vascular dementia – to stay alive because he loved life.
I am very happy to have been there with him as he transitioned from this world to another. I was certainly blessed with many years sharing and providing for his care. I was able to nurture and love him. He was able to champion me as he lived with his dementia. His life path allowed me to not only help him overcome his numerous challenges, but it also allowed me to change the lives of many people around the world. We were a unique team!Â
In 1999 my husband received a triple bypass due to a heart condition. Soon after that on January 30, 2003 he was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia (VD). My loving husband, Major Larry S. Potter, USAF Retired was my inspiration to explore the field of dementia care.
In 2015, I met and trained to become an Energy Medicine Practitioner in the Good Shepherd Healing System. Fortunately for both my husband and I, in 2015-16 he participated in a small dementia study exploring the possibility of containing dementia.
After 2015 , he kept making cognitive and physical progress. We all accept that life on earth is not eternal. His life ended last night and I feel privileged to share this personal information with you because many of you are family caregivers or care providers. Being present for someone to the end is a gift. My husband thought me the most precious gifts we can find in our lifetime: unconditional love and living in the present.
Dr. Lord is a published author, educator, speaker and master Alzheimer/dementia coach.
Dr. Éthelle Lord holds a doctorate degree in management from the University of Phoenix (2010), a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Maine (1992), a graduate certificate as a life coach from CoachU (2002), is a practitioner of energy medicine (Good Shepherd Healing System or GSHS), and several certificates in a variety of professional training programs that support her work. Her most recent certification is an advanced training certificate in face reading (2018) that allows her to quickly and effectively relate to someone who is living with dementia. She considers face reading an essential tool for all dementia coaches and care providers. Dr. Lord is a practitioner of energy medicine, especially the Good Shepherd Healing System (GSHS).
Dr. Lord has 21 years of first-hand experience as a dementia caregiver for her husband, Major Larry S. Potter, USAF Ret., who was officially diagnosed in January 2003 with Vascular Dementia. His dementia was contained in 2015 when he participated as a subject in a small but informal energy medicine study along with six other participants from California to France. Larry died on June 18, 2020 from a broken heart since the nursing facility was locked down to all visitors due to the Covid-19.
In the summer of 2012, she was a keynote in Chicago to a large audience of neurologists from all over the world who were seeking first-hand information on family caregiving and Alzheimer’s. Her keynote was entitled “Yes Virginia, You Can Have an Alzheimer’s-Friendly Healthcare Experience”. From that moment on, she realized the great need for the importance of adopting a universal standard in training and delivering dementia care by professionals and family caregivers.
I was holding my husband last night when he took his last breath. He left this earth at 10:55 pm (June 19, 2020 with acute pulmonary edema) after a week of declining health. No, it was not the Covid-19. It was after 21 years of fighting heart disease and resulting vascular dementia – to stay alive because he loved life.
