I am an award-winning filmmaker, mother, daughter, and brand-new Ga-Ga. Like most caregivers, I was thrust into my new role without warning and without the skills I needed to care for someone with Alzheimerās. And it could not have come at a worse time. (Is there ever really a good time?) I had just gone through a particularly difficult divorce that left her to raise her young teenaged daughter while attempting to fan the flame on her career as an up and coming filmmakers at the same time. All this led to an unexpected gift. A beautiful story that changed how I looked at my Motherās disease. It was so profound that I decided to share her story with the world and hopefully impact other caregivers to change the perspective.
Well, it did! I received an outpouring of positive reaction from audiences all over the world as well as the entertainment industry after writing, producing, directing, and acting in her first short film, MY MOM AND THE GIRL starring Valerie Harper (RHODA) and Liz Torres (GILMORE GIRLS). The film is based on my Mother, Norma, who has been living with Alzheimerās for 16 years now. My Mom and the Girl, coined a ājoyous look at Alzheimerāsā, screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide earning dozens of major awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress. Best Ensemble, to name a few) as well as an Oscar's qualified status.
My Mom and The Girl has worldwide distribution and is available on iTunes Google, and KCET/PBSās Fine Cuts Program. The film is endorsed by Alzheimerās Greater Los Angeles and UsAgainstAlzhiemerās and was the centerpiece of a national Motherās Day campaign with both organizations and ShortsTV
I served as one of the faces seen in several Alzheimerās awareness campaigns for Alzheimerās Los Angeles where she also trained to be a volunteer speaker.
After traveling the film festival circuit where she āhugged and cried with more strangers in one year than in my whole lifeā, Susie knew she needed to continue the conversation she had started. She wanted to help more people reframe how they look at Alzheimerās and Dementia and decided to launch the podcast, LOVE CONQUERS ALZā¦Thanks so much in advance for your help!
xoSusie
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