Posted on 06/23/2023 12:06:11 PM PDT by Red Badger
Jack Hanna, the zookeeper who became famous as the director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, is currently battling Alzheimer's disease, and it's getting progressively worse.
The 76-year-old was first diagnosed in fall 2019 with early Alzheimer's, and now it's gotten to the point where he doesn't even know his own family.
"The Jack people knew isn't here anymore, but pieces of my husband are," Suzi, who has been married to Hanna since 1968, said in a new interview. "And I'm going to hang onto them for as long as I can."
“He just stopped remembering who I was in all ways. Whether it was in person or by phone, he had no idea I was his daughter. I think it’s because he didn’t see me as much because I got married so young and I moved away," Suzi, who shares daughters Kathaleen, Suzanne, and Julie with Hanna, said.
Now, the TV personality apparently only knows his wife, his dog Brassy and sometimes his eldest daughter Kathaleen.
“My husband is still in there somewhere,” Suzi said. “There are still those sweet, tender moments — you know, pieces of him that made me and the rest of the world fall in love with him. It’s hard. Real hard some days. But he took care of me all those years, and so it’s my turn to take care of him.”
The Hannas want to tell this story as it is important to spread the word about this disease.
“If this helps even one other family, it’s more than worth sharing dad’s story,” Kathaleen said. “He spent a lifetime helping everyone he could. He will never know it or understand it, but he is still doing it now.”
Hanna, who retired in 2020, would have still been at the zoo and aquarium if the disease didn't take over.
“He would have worked until the day he died. He only retired due to the Alzheimer’s,” Kathaleen said. “He was embarrassed by it. He lived in fear the public would find out.”
For now, the Late Night with David Letterman star is taking walks with Suzi as she tries to maintain their normal activities.
“I want to hold on to these walks as long as I can,” Suzi said. “I remember the day this all officially started. The day the doctor told us what it was. I’ve just tried to hang on to the little pieces of Jack since then.”
What a shame...prayers for the family.
So sad.
Terrible writing. The wife and daughter seem interchangeable in this recounting.
So does he or does he not remember her?
“He just stopped remembering who I was in all ways. Whether it was in person or by phone, he had no idea I was his daughter. I think it’s because he didn’t see me as much because I got married so young and I moved away,” Suzi, who shares daughters Kathaleen, Suzanne, and Julie with Hanna, said.
Now, the TV personality apparently only knows his wife, his dog Brassy and sometimes his eldest daughter Kathaleen.
Like many Alzheimer’s patients, recognition comes and goes and eventually just stops entirely.
My grandfather who raised me from 5 to 14 years old, went rather quickly, in just a couple of months he didn’t even recognize me............
No kidding
It is written as tho Suzi is his wife and daughter
Very sad. Terrible thing to have.
If we’ve learned anything about big pharma, it’s that they’re probably sitting on a $2 pill that could cure it. At least in the early stages.
I remember watching him on the Johnny Carson show decades ago.
We watch his Saturday Morning animal shows that are still on local TV every Saturday morning..............
One of my favorite streaming channels is Jack Hanna
So I’ve been following his decline recently
Sad. He brought the animal kingdom into our living room
Yeah, doesn’t anyone proofread anything anymore?
So sad. Hanna was admirable. Sad about your grandfather too.
A dear friend of mine was just diagnosed with some cellular irregularity in her brain that leads to Alzheimers. Our local Natural Grocer has classes on what to do to slow down progress of disease. Also, the new bestselling book, OUTLIVE: The Science and Art of Longevity, has a chapter on Alzheimers and how to fight it off as long as possible. If you feel at risk, buy the book or get from your library.
I have read that cutting out ALL wheat and grains including rice will slow it down considerably....................
Interesting. Will tell my friend.
I gave up wheat years ago, but for a different reason. Dr. Wm Davis’s book, Wheat Belly, stated that wheat eating can cause high LDL. Very complicated equation leads to that conclusion. I stopped eating wheat and within 60 days, my LDL dropped 40 points, no statins for me. I found a terrific bread at Natural Grocer made entirely of seeds of various kinds. Delish. They can’t keep it on the shelves.
Prayers for Jack Hanna and his family.
I read UNDOCTORED by him!....................
Marlin Perkins. The anchor.
Kill Shot accelerated.
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