Inspired by personal experience, Dalre and Dr. Alfred Martin made a $50,000 gift to The MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) — bolstering its work in bringing hope, support and scientific discovery to families facing dementia.
The Madison, Mississippi, couple's investment in The MIND Center’s work is rooted in the memory of Dalre Martin's mother, Annie Doris Greer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2011. She died Dec. 13, 2014.
“The irony is that Alzheimer's is a disease centered around memory, yet she passed on a day that is so easy to remember: 12-13-14,” she said. “That date has stayed with me ever since.
“Aside from losing my son, it was the most difficult challenge I've ever faced,” she continued. “I didn't have a support system, so it was incredibly hard.”
At first, she struggled to accept what was happening, but her mother’s repeated questions, forgotten conversations and familiar stories told again and again gradually made denial impossible.
“There were very few resources available to help families navigate the disease,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges was simply making sure she was eating and taking her medication. I would go by her house three or four times a day to check on her.”
Today, when she thinks about The MIND Center, Martin sees the kind of resource she needed during those difficult years.
“The MIND Center didn't exist back then, and that’s one reason I’m so passionate about its work today,” she said. “I feel honored and blessed to be a donor because The MIND Center is exactly what I needed all those years ago. I’m grateful that other families now have access to those resources and support systems.”
Alfred Martin not only supports The Mind Center financially but also serves on its board of directors.
“Dalre and Dr. Alfred Martin’s generosity is a powerful example of how personal experience can create lasting impact,” said Dr. Tom Mosley, the Robbie and Dudley Hughes Distinguished Chair and Director of The MIND Center. “Their gift will help The MIND Center continue advancing groundbreaking research, expanding support for patients and caregivers while bringing hope to families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
“We are deeply grateful for their commitment to this mission and for their belief in the work being done at UMMC,” he continued. “And we greatly appreciate Dr. Martin’s service on our board.”
Dr. Martin’s decision to support The MIND Center grew from a lifelong awareness of the disease and its impact on families as well as the encouragement from his friend and fellow Mississippian, John Corlew — one of the center’s original board members.
Today, Dr. Martin is energized by the progress occurring at the center.
“The MIND Center’s research is recognized around the world,” he said. “We are making progress in diagnosing dementia earlier than ever before, so the goal now is to better understand how to intervene and treat the disease in its earliest stages.”
Perhaps most importantly, the Martins say, is that families now have hope.
“When Dalre’s mother was diagnosed, many physicians simply didn’t know what to do or what advice to give,” Dr. Martin said. “That’s not a criticism; the science simply wasn’t there yet. The research being conducted now is helping doctors provide better answers, better treatments and greater hope for families.”
And what do the Martins hope? That fewer caregivers will have to navigate the disease alone and that future generations will benefit from earlier diagnoses, better treatments and new breakthroughs.
“The MIND Center is making a difference every day,” Dalre Martin said. “If it can help even one family avoid some of the struggles we faced, then that’s meaningful.”
To support The MIND Center, visit http://www.umc.edu/givenow/ or contact Ryan Mains, Director of Philanthropy and Engagement-The MIND Center at rmains@umc.edu or 601-815-4299.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation