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How is Pat Summitt doing these days?

Posted on 12/11/14 at 9:58 pm
Posted by JEAUXBLEAUX
Bayonne, NJ
Member since May 2006
55358 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 9:58 pm
Any news?
Posted by scrooster
Resident Ethicist
Member since Jul 2012
37574 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 10:24 pm to
I'd like to know too.

She is one of my favorite human beings. A very special person
Posted by NBamaAlum
Soul Patrolville
Member since Jan 2009
27604 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 10:28 pm to
One of the GOATs.
Posted by tennessee391
Member since Dec 2008
4885 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 10:51 pm to
The last I heard she wasn't doing great.

A friend of mine was her waitress recently and she said someone she was with ordered her meal for her.
Posted by NBamaAlum
Soul Patrolville
Member since Jan 2009
27604 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 10:54 pm to
frick.

Thoughts for her from Alabama...
Posted by JEAUXBLEAUX
Bayonne, NJ
Member since May 2006
55358 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 11:19 pm to
Such a shame
Posted by Arksulli
Fayetteville
Member since Aug 2014
25171 posts
Posted on 12/11/14 at 11:28 pm to
What a vile and malignant disease. To see someone like Summitt or Terry Pratchett having their mind slowly stolen from them is just horrible.

I met her once at an airport, years and years ago, and she was the nicest person you could ever want to meet. Best of wishes to her.
Posted by Prof
Member since Jun 2013
42610 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 12:54 am to
First, I really appreciate you asking.

Coach has her good days and bad days but she still makes a lot of appearances, especially when she's having good days. It was incredibly touching that she was the one who awarded the courage award to a player with a terminal illness - it really was.

Sometimes she looks lost and it just breaks my heart to see that because she's so young for this illness and I saw that in my granny when she was in her 80s.

HOWEVER, Summitt is tougher than nails, a GOAT in WBB and an absolute legend in basketball period who ranks right up there with plenty of male coaches who've reached the pinnacle of men's bball. And we all know what an iron will she possessed. I think part of what made it so damned hard as a Summitt fan is that she was always so mentally tough and sharp. It just doesn't seem fair that her mind would be attacked this way.

All that said, the courage she's displayed by after revealing the diagnosis that to this day continues is simply amazing. She's done a lot to fundraise and really put herself out there in a way few would. Unfortunately, those DX'd early are more prone to a faster decline than those DX'd later in life (for some reason the younger you are the more likely it is to eat you up). I hope she's one of the lucky ones though -- I don't want her to decline fast or to lose her to this any time soon. There are very, very, few people I admire without having to place a caveat about their flaws and/or "he's great but he did do this or this or acts like this from time to time..." but Summitt is one of the very few worthy ones.

I pray for a cure to end this terrible disease. Not just for her but for everyone.
Posted by Prof
Member since Jun 2013
42610 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 1:30 am to
quote:


The last I heard she wasn't doing great.

A friend of mine was her waitress recently and she said someone she was with ordered her meal for her.


I def. believe you. In fact, I was tap dancing around this because it's hard for me to accept but it's true. However, her bad days are pretty bad, worse than they were. She still has good days though which is fairly common with Alzheimer's.

I mentioned earlier that the younger you are DX'd the more rapidly it tends eats you up. What I left out, maybe for my own sake, is there's some evidence that while intelligence keeps it at bay longer, once it develops intelligence hurts. Since the brain develops over a lifetime of use, the neural pathways which tend to be more complicated, developed, as well s numerically a great deal more than in those who aren't as intelligent (or at least less educated/prone to develop them) serve Alzheimer's when it hits. Think of it as providing a thorough transportation system for the illness. BUT use it or lose it is truer than we thought, especially when these pathways are forming.

There's little doubt Summit was/is highly intelligent and a fantastic strategist/chessmaster so the theory makes a great deal of sense. Again that's just some evidence from legit studies not proof (that takes even more studies and a lot more consensus in a frictious scientific community) but it does look to work that way more often than not and we also know for certain that the earlier the DX the more rapid the decline on average.

I just hope and pray she's the exception. Far too young for this, imnsho (and FWIW I'd say that about anyone).
Posted by Razorback Reverend
Member since Dec 2013
22713 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:16 am to
I have family members with this terrible progressive disease. I will remember the rest of my life when my loving family member called me after being at a family conference and telling me she had it.

I haveint cried that hard in years. I suffer daily at the loss of love, life and mostly remembrance this member has lost.

Ohhh what I would give for one single 24 hr period of normalcy I grew up with. Dear God, it is hard
Posted by 2poop
bama
Member since Sep 2009
4562 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:22 am to
This world is a better world because she lived. All are lucky to reap the benifits of her kind and caring days. Much respect.
Posted by mcain31
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Dec 2013
21 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 4:43 am to
Does anybody know how the research is going at the U of Ark Alzheimer's Disease Center?
Posted by GeauxLSU8
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2005
4233 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 6:18 am to
I have been wondering about her too. Thanks to those who responded. Have been a fan of hers for years. Classy Lady
Posted by skinny domino
sebr
Member since Feb 2007
14329 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 6:35 am to
quote:

I have been wondering about her too. Thanks to those who responded. Have been a fan of hers for years. Classy Lady
this
Posted by SpartyGator
Detroit Lions fan
Member since Oct 2011
75335 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 6:40 am to
Damn, that sucks. Respected the hell out of Pat too
Posted by CoachDon
Louisville
Member since Sep 2014
12409 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 7:04 am to
Loved watching her coach, and watching her teams play. It was the only thing about Tennessee that I could stomach...ever!

She is an awesome human being!

Posted by nc14
La Jolla
Member since Jan 2012
28193 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 7:07 am to
GOAT

Have a friend that was a classmate. I will see if he knows anything and report back. That is one special lady.

****Friend has not heard recently but the last thing he had heard was that the condition was progressing faster than expected. So sad.
This post was edited on 12/12/14 at 10:58 am
Posted by five_fivesix
Y’all
Member since Aug 2012
13834 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 7:15 am to
This is a painful thread to read. Both for Ms. Summit and for myself.

Prayers to her and her family.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
118883 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 7:15 am to
Pat Summitt may be the best college coach of all time in any sport. I'm serious. Her accomplishments are superior to Rupp, Bryant and Wooden.
Posted by bamaphan13
Member since Jan 2011
988 posts
Posted on 12/12/14 at 7:36 am to
If you have Showtime there was a story about her son on 60 min Sports in the last few weeks. He is the head coach at La Tech and about 25.
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