In My Father's Of The Light: The Story Behind NeuroAscend.AI
The enveloping of Alzheimer's disease around the sturdy family foundations and our 10-year journey with it (still ongoing).Since childhood, I grew up in a family where education was always highly valued, and success was consistently acknowledged. However, as I prepared for university of a mysterious journey that lay ahead during these challenging times. At first, we couldn't make sense of it, and we had no knowledge about this disease.
The desire to pursue a career in engineering and create something meaningful has always motivated
me. Yet, when faced with this unexpected turn of events in life, I found myself embarking on an
unknown journey. My father's illness not only questioned our family's dreams and goals but also
mine. However, even amidst this trying process, my passion for research and innovation never
wavered. My university years were spent participating in various projects, yet I realized that what
truly mattered to me was being part of a project that would make a difference in people's lives.
My research on Alzheimer's disease introduced me to a world I had never seen before. Every day, I
delved into new articles, witnessed groundbreaking discoveries, and realized that I was not alone in
this journey. Equipped with this knowledge, I set myself a purpose: to fight against Alzheimer's and
help those affected by this disease.
With this decision, I set out on a journey, gathering all the courage to overcome the obstacles
ahead. As I took the first steps, from Istanbul to America, I embarked on a journey filled with
determination and resilience. I lived alone in Istanbul and spent days visiting hospitals,
consulting with doctors to confirm my ideas and gather insights on the feasibility and impact of my
project. During this process, my father's illness was visibly worsening day by day. He first stopped
driving due to confusion, then retired from work due to cognitive issues, and eventually became
unable to recognize us or communicate effectively.
There were times he would sit and stare out of the window for hours, sometimes not speaking at all,
and sometimes trying to wander off from home. It was the most heartbreaking thing I've witnessed in
my life. We spent years searching for him on the streets every day. Once, he walked so far and got
lost that we found him collapsed. He had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance because he
couldn't stay at home or sometimes he ran away from us due to not recognizing us. He started to
become increasingly isolated from society, stopped meeting his friends, spent hours watching TV, or
doing nothing at all. Alzheimer's was truly a terrifying disease.
As the pandemic hit, he completely lost his ability to speak. He could no longer form coherent
sentences or communicate. We didn't even realize how it happened. I struggled to find activities we
could do together to engage him. Eventually, through the companionship of pets and music therapy, we
managed the pandemic period a little better. I wish I had known this information earlier. We visited
many doctors, but none could offer a solution as we were dealing with an incurable disease. It was
too late for my father, but I want to help everyone else who is struggling on this difficult journey
like me.
Towards the end of the pandemic, my father had lost even the ability to perform simple daily tasks.
We had to assist him with everything from bathing to eating. He had lost all his abilities and we
could only take him out for a walk daily. Physical activity seemed to benefit him because it was the
only thing he remembered!
Nearly two years ago, our entire family contracted Covid severely, and my father stayed in the
intensive care unit for a month and a half. It was the darkest period for our family. Unfortunately,
my father forgot how to walk at the end of a month and a half and reached the final stage of
Alzheimer's. Currently, he has been bedridden for two years.
My father always wanted me to be a good engineer. However, I was inclined towards helping people and
doing something meaningful in life. Now, as we approach the beta testing phase, I am filled with
excitement and responsibility to bring about an innovation that will impact millions of lives. Our
artificial intelligence-powered mobile application, born out of ten years of experience in
Alzheimer's, engineering expertise, and the dedication of our doctors, not only addresses
Alzheimer's but also works on 22 different diseases. Our aim is to take a holistic approach to the
problems faced by patients and their families, improve their physical and mental health, and enhance
their quality of life by providing personalized routines, advice, and content.
Throughout this enduring journey, we have taken many significant steps and formed crucial
partnerships. We invite you to stay updated on new developments and be part of the progress of our
valuable project. Stay tuned and become a part of this meaningful endeavor!
