Life in the A-Zone
Peggy Sweeney-McDonald, actress, producer, and author of Meanwhile, Back at Cafe Du Monde... Life Stories About Food shares her journey of moving back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after 36 years when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. These are her heartfelt stories of life, love, laughter, and loss in the A-Zone.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 24 minutes
- Episodes
- 21
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Rebooting, Resilience and Creating - A Conversation with Artist Jackie Begue
In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my friend, artist Jackie Begue, to talk about rebooting, resilience, and the creative spark that can emerge from life’s unexpected turns.
We share the …
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 20: A Sherry Sky
Peggy and her sister Shannan rush back from Washington D.C. when her mother takes a turn for the worse. Miraculously, they are able to be by her side with the family as she took her last breath. The …
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 19: The Last Anniversary
Peggy and her three sisters plan a 62nd-anniversary party for their parents at the Memory Care facility after their Mother is placed on Hospice Care. Alzheimer's may have taken his wife's health and …
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 18: Everything Will Be Alright
Peggy spends the night with her mother at the memory care facility and in a moment of peace, her mother tells her everything will be alright. Peggy realizes her mother's struggle with Alzheimer's is …
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 17: Don't Forget How Good You Are
Peggy's mother is barely speaking these days as she grows weaker from Alzheimer's. However, in a special moment of clarity at the Memory Care facility, she shares a beautiful and heartwarming life le…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 16: Hospital Madness
Peggy takes her mother to the hospital and everything changes as she is placed on palliative care. Alzheimer's is winning the battle and Peggy surrenders to the bleak reality.
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 15: The Baby Dolls
As her mother settles into her new life at an Alzheimer's Memory Care facility, Peggy and her father begin to adjust to an empty house without her. The Alzheimer's struggle at home is gone, but so is…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 14: The Last Beignet
The last weekend with Peggy's mother before moving her into a memory care facility has arrived. Nothing can prepare the family for this life-changing moment in their Alzheimer's struggle. Friday nigh…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 13: Leaving the Nest
Peggy realizes it's time for her mother to leave the nest as the family prepares to move her into an Alzheimer's memory care facility. The beloved home her mother built will never be the same once sh…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 12: Broken Ornaments and Broken Hearts
Decorating for the holidays is bittersweet this year. Peggy realizes this will be her mother's last Christmas at home and she longs for Christmas of yesteryear as a lifetime of memories fills her hea…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 11: Walking Away
Another step down the ladder of the Alzheimer’s journey is inevitable as Peggy’s mother begins walking out of the house unnoticed. Trying to figure out the next move to keep her safe brings confusion…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 10: The Birthday Cruise
Taking an Alzheimer's patient on a cruise may not be a great idea, but Mom's 82nd birthday deserves a big celebration. Her smiles and endless laughter make it worth the awkward moments, and we are bl…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 9: Trips to Nowhere
Peggy and her father make plans for special trips with her mother, but soon realize road trips with an Alzheimer’s patient are challenging, exhausting, and emotionally draining. Their best-laid plans…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 8 - A Basket of Memories
Peggy plans a “good day” for her mother decorating the house for Easter sparking many childhood memories. Celebrating Easter may be different these days, however, creating new memories can be just as…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 7: The Fashion Show
Peggy's stressful day over her mother's choice of clothing for Grandparent's Day turns around that evening when her family goes to hear live music at a local bar. Watching her mother and father tende…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 6: Best Friends
Peggy takes a girl's trip to Natchez, Mississippi with her mother, her mother's best friend, and her daughter. The weekend is a celebration of friendship and love with a side of pie. Everything is b…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 5: Lessons of the Lake
Simple life lessons to deal with her mother's Alzheimer's are discovered as Peggy walks around the beautiful neighborhood lake encountering a White Heron, a Blue Heron, and a gaggle of Canadian Geese…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 4 - Pink Cloud Moments
A morning of surrender and reaching out for help turns into a beautiful day when Peggy snaps a beautiful picture of her mother in the backyard. This simple photograph invokes loving memories of her G…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 3: The Ladies Who Lunch
For Peggy, shopping with her mother followed by a lovely lunch with the Sweeney sisters was a favorite mother/daughter bonding activity. However, shopping now with their new unwelcome friend, Alzheim…
Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's), Episode 2: Meatball Madness
Peggy Sweeney-McDonald shares her stories of love and life in the Alzheimer's zone while living with her mother after she was diagnosed.
This is Episode 2: Meatball Madness -A crazy night in the S…