Pat Summit Diagnosed with Dementia

#52
#52
From what I know about AD firsthand (My grandmother as well as one of my high school teachers suffers from it) It is a disease that can go all over the place. My grandmother has been diagnosed for over 20 years, and she is now 91 and in better shape than most of her children. She has moments where she knows absolutely nothing, but then a certain person can enter the room or a tv show can come on, and she can discuss events with the person or the plot of the show as if its nothing. If they caught it this early (59 with any signs if dementia is about as likely as finding a pancreatic cancer patient in stage 0 or 1) then they most likely can manage it very well. There are medications to slow down the progression similar to Huntington's, but nothing can ultimately stop it. The fact she is already doing mental exercises, and her profession as well is one that causes extensive use of her brain and mental faculties, will aid greatly in fighting off the disease. The more you use the brain, the harder it is for it to degenerate. If I were to guess, she has till 65 or so coaching most likely now. Depending on how the school wants to do it, she might be able to go ten years even with extensive help from assistant coaches, it really all just depends on how fast it progresses.
 
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#54
#54
Prayers go out to CPS and family from Baylor Nation. She is very loved and respected in the Heart of Texas.
 
#55
#55
ole_orange said:
No matter what your interest may be in womens basketball, Pat Summit is an icon for our University. She epitomizes class and intergrety and is the standard for how collegiate coaches should handle themselves.
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I agree...

This is really sad news....
 
#56
#56
So sad and only at 59 years old. She is a true VFL and I hope she coaches as long as the Good Lord is willing. My thoughts and prayers are with her, her family, and Lady Vol nation. God Bless!
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#57
#57
Hate to hear that and I will have her and her family in my thoughts and prayers...even as an opposing fan I think I speak for everyone when I say she's one of most well respected women in sports. She's a icon and one of the most competitive coaches I've got to witness. Best of wishes to everyone involved.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#58
#58
Horrible news for Coach Summitt. She seems to have her mind in the right place. With her resolve and the resources she has available if anyone can fight through this it will be her. There has been numerous articles recently about possible breakthrough's in the treatment of Alzheimer's hopefully the research proves fruitful. Cause of ALS is Found, Brings Hope for a Cure for Alzheimer's Disease among several other research projects that have been making progress in recent months.
 
#60
#60
Pat is trending on Twitter right now. That's shows how much people all over loves and respects her!!
 
#62
#62
7thgroupvolfan said:
Sad day in UT sports histroy. She still has years of coaching ahead of her.
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Sad day in Sports. Period.


This is a sad day for anyone that loves Woments Basketball, Basketball or just Sports in general.

Your coach is one of the most universally respected coach in all of sports, and the GatorBill family will certainly say our prayers for her and her family.

Best of luck and health to Coach Summit
 
#63
#63
Very very sad. I have so much respect for Pat Summit as a coach. Not just because she coaches the Lady Vols, but in the manner she has conducted herself and demanded excellence with her teams. Women's sports all over the country are in debt to her and I hope the dementia doesn't progress rapidly.

Prayers sent.
 
#65
#65
Prayers sent to Pat and her family.
I'm glad she will try and coach this year so she and her family will be able to see the game give its love back to her. Good luck Pat and thank you for a ton of great memories.
 
#67
#67
Letter from Coach Summitt:

August 23, 2011

Dear All–
Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and my basketball program were an open book.
With that in mind, I have something I’d like to share with my Tennessee families—the university, boosters and fans of Lady Vol basketball.
Once last season concluded, I addressed some ongoing concerns regarding my health. After consulting with my local physicians, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Earlier this summer, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with early onset dementia ("Alzheimer's Type") at the age of 59.
I plan to continue to be your coach. Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days.
For that reason I will be relying on my outstanding coaching staff like never before. We have always collaborated on every facet of Lady Vol Basketball; and now you will see Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss taking on more responsibility as their duties will change significantly.
I love being your coach, and the privilege to go to work every day with our outstanding Lady Vol basketball student-athletes. I appreciate the complete support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT Athletics Director Joan Cronan to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord is willing.
I've been honest and shared my health concerns with you and now we’ll move forward to the business at hand…coaching a great group of Lady Vols. For the time being, I hope you will respect my privacy regarding this matter.

Thank you.

Go Lady Vols!


Pat Summitt
 
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#68
#68
StarRaider said:
Letter from Coach Summit:

August 23, 2011

Dear All–
Throughout my career, I have always made it a point that my life and my basketball program were an open book.
With that in mind, I have something I’d like to share with my Tennessee families—the university, boosters and fans of Lady Vol basketball.
Once last season concluded, I addressed some ongoing concerns regarding my health. After consulting with my local physicians, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Earlier this summer, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed me with early onset dementia ("Alzheimer's Type") at the age of 59.
I plan to continue to be your coach. Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days.
For that reason I will be relying on my outstanding coaching staff like never before. We have always collaborated on every facet of Lady Vol Basketball; and now you will see Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss taking on more responsibility as their duties will change significantly.
I love being your coach, and the privilege to go to work every day with our outstanding Lady Vol basketball student-athletes. I appreciate the complete support of UT Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Cheek and UT Athletics Director Joan Cronan to continue coaching at the University of Tennessee as long as the good Lord is willing.
I've been honest and shared my health concerns with you and now we’ll move forward to the business at hand…coaching a great group of Lady Vols. For the time being, I hope you will respect my privacy regarding this matter.

Thank you.

Go Lady Vols!


Pat Summitt
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In tears at work.
 
#69
#69
My wife's mother has had Dementia since 2003. It's very difficult to deal with. She now needs 24/7 care and most days does not know my wife. I can see the hurt and fatigue in my wife's eyes. Our lives have changed dramtically in the last 8 years. Other than myself my wife has no family help. Her step dad died in June and her mom is now in hospice care. We are nearing the end and it's tough watching a loved one waste away. Only our faith in God and the grace of Jesus Christ keeps us putting one foot in front of the other everyday.

My prayers are for Coach Summit and her family.
 
#70
#70
On perhaps a slightly lighter note, short of murdering a referee, what does Pat have to do to get a technical this year?
 
#71
#71
NOOOOOOOOO! This sucks! We love you Pat and hope and pray you get better. What a class act....

Man, this sucks! SOOOO, SOOOOO, Sad right now.

Pat is a true VFL!
 
#74
#74
Shocking news, sad day. We can only hope that the progression of this dreaded diseased is s-l-o-w. Still, Cronan and Summitt will need to formulate a retirement/succession plan--sooner rather than later. Pat should go out at the top of her game.
 
#75
#75
armchair said:
Shocking news, sad day. We can only hope that the progression of this dreaded diseased is s-l-o-w. Still, Cronan and Summitt will need to formulate a retirement/succession plan--sooner rather than later. Pat should go out at the top of her game.
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Who do you think is in line to succeed her?
 
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