Feature Story: My Fathers War

Katrina Wagner
kwagner14@ehc.edu
Hopeful to bring awareness to a disease close to his heart playwright,
Steve Franco, stood in front of the audience for 3 nights passionately
advocating for the war his father is fighting.
The triggering factor that has caused the Glenvar High School Theatre
teacher, Franco, to emotionally go to such lengths as to write a play
based around it, are illnesses that go by the names of Alzheimers or
Dementia. Francos father has been diagnosed with dementia, and the
toll it has taken on him has opened doors for him to see the load it puts
on other families shoulders that have loved ones who have these
illnesses. By gaining first hand experience about the effects of the
disease on families and the need for treatment, he was spurred to
write the play My Fathers War and then use it to raise money to
hopefully in the future lead to the elimination of the disease in its
entirety.
Beginning every play, that he helps to direct at Glenvar High School,
Franco takes to the front of the theatre to say a few things to the
audience before the actors take the stage. This time was a little
different from just the usual spiel about turning off all cell phones and
all the hard work put into the production; he began by reciting some
statistics that can be found from the Alzheimers Associations. The
information was shocking, Friends---I'd like to give you some numbers and ask
for your help. One---1 in 3---that's the number of Senior citizens that will die from
Alzheimers/Dementia related illness. Six---Alzheimer's is the 6th leading killer in the
U.S. $226 Billion (BILLION not million)--the amount of money that was spent last year
on Alzheimer's/ Dementia care in 2015, recited Franco. All audience members helped
the cause the three nights that the show ran by attending the event, which donated some
of the proceeds from the $5 ticket to the SW Virginia Alzheimer's Association.
Watching the play was difficult for many reasons, although it was for an amazing cause.
One of those reasons being the play was so realistic that you became emotionally
invested in the characters and their welfare. It was heart wrenching to watch as their
memories faded and those that loved them could do nothing to help them gain those
memories back. The accuracy of the play was no accident since Franco ran by the fine
details with Dr. Kye Kim, director of a dementia unit and memory disorders clinic.
Another reason the play was difficult to watch was the personal
element it had for myself. Ive had two great-grandmothers who have
been diagnosed with Alzheimers and fade away and eventually pass
away with the disease. The pain, medical expenses, emotional turmoil,
and overall effect the disease can take on families is often overlooked;

a subject that was discussed in the play. Its amazing how much
difference just talking to a professional or attending a support group
could make for a loved one going through this with the patient and
more things of the nature need to be provided to loved ones.
Having family members on both sides of the family tree who have fell
victim to Alzheimers; its always a looming fear that one day I may not
remember. I may not remember my parents, my friends, my
hometown, or I may not remember the sum of my life. Its truly a
terrifying
thought,
because
memories are
part of what
makes you who
you are. The
Roanoke Times
reported that
by 2050, when
most of the play's
cast will be in their
60s or 70s, the
number of
Americans with
Alzheimer's is
estimated to triple
to 16 million. Will
I be included in that
16 million? Will a
cure or treatment
for memory related
illnesses be found
by then?
Patient treatment was a topic that was thoroughly discussed in the play. The role of the
doctors recited time and time again that although the patients in the memory unit dont
know whats going on, they are still just like any other patients and need to be treated like
such. Its a fear that many have when entrusting the care of those they love to facilities
who can care for them in ways that they cant. They ask themselves many questions when
in search of a facility, such as Will they take care of them the way they should? and
Who will make sure they are being treated fairly when they wont know whats going
on? To put the well being of someone you are responsible for in the care of another is
truly difficult, and its reassuring to know that attitudes towards patients are (hopefully)
like the ones illustrated in the play.

Ending the play the cast sang Sarah McLachlans I Will Remember You, while holding
candles to represent those who battle both directly and indirectly with some form of a
memory related illness. It was a truly a haunting ending, which evoked a lot of sympathy
to the cause of Alzheimers/Dementia research. It gives me hope that one day, maybe
sooner than we think, events like the production of this play will amount to possibly
finding a cure to memory related illnesses that have affected so many of us and so many
of us to come.