Our youngest son, Lance (who lives in Maryland) and I moved Fred to St. Pauls Plaza in Chula Vista, CA. on November 12. Philip would have been there also, but he’s in London. The facility houses Independent Senior Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. Fred is in Memory Care.

The first two weeks were awful. I would be there 9-10 hours every day. I was doing everything for him: helping him get up, get to the toilet, etc. I hurt my back and was forced to rely on the staff for assistance. I am now spending about 8 hours a day with him. Sometimes he knows who I am and even if he doesn’t know me, he says he loves me. This has been the hardest thing I have had to do in my life!

The Parkinson’s and the Dementia seem to be progressing rapidly. The Parkinson’s affects his mobility and the Dementia affects him being in the here and now. Sometimes he’s still in the USMC (30+ years) and sometimes he’s working at Mercury Aviation (17 years).

The one thing he has mentioned recently is MAIL. He hasn’t received any! If any of you would send a “thinking of you” card or a Christmas card, that would be so great! His address is

Col Fred Allega USMC (Ret)

St. Paul’s Plaza

1420 E Palomar St. #105

Chula Vista, CA 91913

Thank you for all your prayers and kind thoughts!