By: Amanda Boyer

Ian Heinze, a Quincy University sophomore, will be published by the Alzheimer’s Association for a paper he wrote. It was made possible because he visited his grandma.

Heinze, who wrote the paper during his first year at QU, originally wrote the story to, “Get out frustration in a creative and productive way,” Heinze said. “But I was truly not expecting an acceptation from such a large association, especially while the piece was coming from an unknown writer in a small area.”

Heinze submitted his story with guidance from Terry Sherer, a lecturer in English at QU, in the spring of this year to the Alzheimer’s Association. It is an organization that receives extensive amounts of papers from all over the world.

“Dr. Sherer actually was the one who brought up the idea of submitting my piece for publication,…” Heinze said. “And I owe him excessively for ambitiously pushing me when I was apprehensive at first to the notion of possible publication.”

The  Alzheimer’s Association, which started in 1980, by Jerome H. Stone. Today, it is now the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

“To have a paper accepted and published by a national association was nothing but a blessing from God for me. Knowing that my paper has now reached other families struggling through similar obstacles brings me great joy,” Heinze said. “I have been entirely grateful in my conversations with other families going through such times, and to have the opportunity to give understanding to others is the epitome of success.”

Heinze  wrote the story on his grandma who has had Alzheimer’s for a handful of years, but he didn’t originally have intentions to write the piece.

“It started off just as notes I would jot down while visiting her,…” Heinze said. “Although these notes hastily evolved into a gnawing need for her story to be written down.”

The story he wrote is about the physical, emotional and mental challenges Alzheimer’s patients face, along with the family.

“Watching her deteriorate has been a very painful process to endure,” Heinze said. “It is an attempt to connect not only those who have a loved one battling Alzheimer’s, but the paper is also to reach out to those who do not truly understand what a wicked disease Alzheimer’s truly is.”

“(He was) Immense help throughout each and every stage,” Heinze said. “Whether I needed advice on what route to take… or simply a friend to discuss life with; he was constantly there for me. Dr. Sherer truly is a once in a lifetime professor and it is and honor to have him as a dear friend.”

The  Alzheimer’s Association is publishing his paper on their Facebook and e-news site on December 5.His story can also be read by following THIS link.