Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

PSP. This is what my grandfather suffers from. After misdiagnoses of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and then Alzheimer's again. I just returned from a visit with my family in WNY, and the effect on him is incredible, just since Christmas. His eyes are permanently wide and motionless, and his movements slow, jerky and labored.

Then the day after we left, he broke his rib falling at the dining room table. I can't even express how hard it is to watch what was once my witty, loud and charasmatic grandpa decline into this childlike state. He frightens his great-granddaughter. She'll never know the man that used to belt "How Great Thou Art" through the house, occasionally changing the lyrics to something silly. "I hear the rolling thunder!" over and over.

I don't think he does that anymore. But thank goodness for pinochle.