Cynthia Huling Hummel Untangles the Memories Behind the Masks
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel is an Alzheimer’s artist, author, and advocate. She is the author of “UnMasking Alzheimer’s: The Memories Behind the Mask,” a collection of photos of the 36 masks she created as a participant in an arts program called “Art Reflects” for those living with memory loss and their care partners. Cynthia says she started with one mask and couldn’t stop! Each one reveals a story that speaks to her experience of living with early onset Alzheimer’s. She hopes that her mask collection will travel around the country and provide a better understanding of the challenges of living with a cognitive disorder. She also hopes that it will reduce the stigma of a dementia diagnosis and serve as a catalyst for opening discussions about the condition.
Cynthia was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment in 2011. This changed to clinical Alzheimer’s in 2016. She does not let her diagnosis stop her. In fact, she does everything she can to raise awareness and funds for research and support services for those living with memory conditions. She’s enrolled in several clinical trials and urges everyone to learn more at Trialmatch.alz.org. She loves public speaking and has given more than 50 talks to community groups. A former pastor, she especially enjoys speaking to faith communities on how to be more dementia friendly.
In this episode, we discuss how life doesn’t stop after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, her new ministry as an advocate for those living with dementia, and her exhaustive schedule of activities, filled with the arts, education, and many surprising adventures.
Read Cynthia’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2019/09/03/cynthia-huling-unmasking-alzheimers/
Start reading UnMasking Alzheimer’s: The Memories Behind the Masks now!
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Connect with Cynthia:
View Cynthia’s YouTube message about COVID-19
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