The KHOU 11 Houston weekend anchor team of Marcelino Benito, Pat Cavlin and Zack Tawatari recently wore purple for Alzheimer’s AND Brain Awareness Month.
Benito lost his mother to the disease in 2023. He recently joined the board of the Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter
More info at www.alz.org/texas.
Hello from Washington, D.C., this week. Your favorite Texas media blogger is asking Houston-area members of Congress to help end Alzheimer's disease.
This time, a familiar face will be on the trip, KHOU 11 weekend anchor Marcelino Benito, who is now a Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter Board Member!
Below is a video I produced covering 2023's Walk to End Alzheimer's Houston, in which Benito bravely shares the story of his mother's battle with the disease.
As an Alzheimer's Ambassador, I will meet the staffers of my member of Congress, Representative Lizzie Fletcher of the Texas 7th Congressional District.
Here is my story as an Alzheimer's Association, Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter Board Member fighting against the disease that took my mother's life.
If you live in Texas' 7th Congressional District (now with new boundaries), meaning Rep. Fletcher is currently your member of Congress, JOIN MY AMBASSADOR TEAM HERE. We can ensure that Rep. Fletcher and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz know we are serious about ending Alzheimer's disease! You can help by simply tweeting or doing as much as going to D.C.
You can also help me in my fight by supporting my Walk to End Alzheimer's Houston team.
Mike McGuff lost his mother to early-onset Alzheimer's in his 20s. Dayna Steele and Mike talk about what that was like for a young man just starting a promising career and how it changed him and his life on the other side of this journey.
McGuff is a Houston/Southeast Texas Alzheimer's Association board member and the 7th Congressional District of Texas Alzheimer's Ambassador.
Professionally he is a Houston digital marketer, blogger, and documentary filmmaker whose first film, "Runaway Radio," a documentary about 101 KLOL (the rock radio station Dayna was on), is currently playing film festivals.
You can donate to our Steeleworkers Alzheimer's Walk team here.
survivingalzheimerspodcast.com
Marcelino Benito announced he will be taking a month and a half leave from his KHOU 11 Houston weekend anchor/reporting duties after the death of his mother from Alzheimer's disease.
UPDATE JULY 2023
Marcelino Benito returns to KHOU 11
Earlier today, I posted about a minor victory in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, but as Benito reminds us, we are then brought face to face with the horror it leaves in its wake.
Here is a portion of what Benito said in his touching video embedded below:
"Losing my mom has really shaken me. She was a very, very important person in my life. I wouldn't be in this position that I am now without her and her lessons and the type of mom she was. So losing her and losing her so suddenly has really shaken me. And I'm not okay right now. And that's difficult for me to say out loud, but it's the truth. And you can only get better if you acknowledge that there's a problem.
And right now, I need time away from work. I need time away from the stress and demands that this job brings. And I need time to focus on myself and on my family and on my pain, on focusing on my grief. You have to confront it as many of you have told me in your messages, you can't put it off. You have to feel the pain and hope to get to the other side. And so that's what I'm going to do.
I feel like I haven't been giving 110% like I strive to do every day here at the station. Um, I'm not giving 110% to my wife and my child. My daughter. And they deserve 150% from me every day. So I will be taking time to focus on myself and to focus on them and hope to return stronger.
I'm making this decision with the full support of my bosses here at KHOU, who have been extremely supportive and had my back from the moment my mom became ill and continue to have my back today."
- KHOU 11 names new weekend anchors
- Marcelino Benito of KGUN Tucson joins KHOU 11
I'm excited to announce that HB 1673, the bill that I went to Austin to testify for back in April, passed the Texas House of Representatives and Senate and has been sent to the Governor's desk.
RELATED
Marcelino Benito to take leave from KHOU 11
Special thanks to Ryan Chandler of KXAN Austin plus Chris Pruitt and Seth Kovar of CW39 KIAH Houston for covering our support of State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione's bill.
Here is more information from the Alzheimer’s Association:
Austin, Texas (June 1, 2023) - Alzheimer’s disease is the most expensive disease in America. The escalating Alzheimer’s epidemic has profound implications on individuals as well as state and federal governments. Texas ranks fourth in the number of Alzheimer’s cases and second in the number of Alzheimer’s deaths in the United States. Legislators during this, the 88th, session demonstrated their commitment to strengthen Texas’s response to the serious public health crisis of Alzheimer’s disease. Numerous bills focused on dementia were considered during the state legislative session. The Alzheimer’s Association championed for and is thrilled to announce the passing of three historic advances in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.
The 2024-2025 State Budget passed with a 550% increased investment to $5.5 million over the biennium for the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Alzheimer’s Disease Program. The Alzheimer’s Disease Program (ADP) provides information and resources to improve care and support and encourage early detection and diagnosis for persons with the disease and their caregivers. With these additional and necessary funds championed by Chairman Giovanni Capriglione, the ADP will have the capacity to provide educational resources for physicians and healthcare professional about the value of early detection and accurate diagnosis; increase public education about brain health and dementia risk reduction, and; implement the Texas State Plan on Alzheimer’s. By comparison, Florida invests $44.1 million annually in similar programs, while Georgia invests $8.3 million.
“Alzheimer’s is a triple threat — with no way to prevent, treat, or cure the disease,” says Melissa Sanchez, Texas Public Policy Director for the Alzheimer’s Association. “Until we find a cure for this devastating disease, investing in support for those living with the disease and their caregivers must remain a priority in our state.”
In addition to the historic increase in funding, two dementia training bills were passed into law, requiring dementia training for law enforcement officers and for assisted-living facility employees. H.B. 568 by Representative Rhetta Bowers (SB 443 by Senator José Menendez), ensures law enforcement officers are trained on how to interact with persons with dementia.
“As the number of people with dementia continues to grow, officers will undoubtedly face several obstacles during their encounters with people with dementia including unique behavioral challenges. Enhancing already required law enforcement training to expand upon safely interacting with persons with Alzheimer’s, can often effectively address situations and ensure the safety of individuals with Alzheimer’s as well as the safety of law enforcement,” says Sanchez.
More than 40% of those in residential care facilities, such as assisted living facilities, have Alzheimer’s or another dementia. For this reason, the passage of H.B. 1673 by Chairman Giovanni Capriglione (Senate sponsor: Senator Johnson) was a critical win for the dementia community in Texas. Of his leadership on Alzheimer’s issues this legislative session, Chairman Giovanni Capriglione says, “It was my pleasure this session to work alongside the Alzheimer’s Association to pass HB 1673 and secure funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease Program.
HB 1673 requires all direct-care staff and management to complete a minimum of four hours, competency-based training with an additional two hours of training annually. Additionally, $5.5 million dollars was appropriated to promote the importance of early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s patients, as well as provide additional support to qualified caregivers. With the passage of HB 1673, Texas demonstrates the importance of proper training for direct-care providers to improve quality of care. I would like to thank the Alzheimer’s Association, our Senate Sponsor Nathan Johnson, and all stakeholders who worked on HB 1673 for all their work to get this bill to the Governor’s desk.”
“The increased investment in Alzheimer’s care and support and the legislation passed, is a big win for the 400,000 Texans living with Alzheimer's disease and the 1 million caregivers who provide over $24 billion in unpaid care. We greatly appreciate the leadership of all our bill sponsors, the bipartisan support we received from the legislature and our community partners, and the voices my fellow advocates lent throughout the session to advance these priorities,” says longtime Alzheimer’s Association advocate and Board Member, Michael McGuff, who testified in support of H.B 1673.
About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
Frank Billingsley was the emcee of the Alzheimer’s Association Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter "An Evening of HOPE" gala.
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Frank Billingsley celebrates 40 years on air
The KPRC 2 chief meteorologist led the "raise the auction paddle" which earned more than $100,000 in donations. He also shared his personal connection with the disease.
The inaugural event, co-chaired by Phoebe Tudor and Kelli Weinzierl, was held April 13, 2023 at The Corinthian in downtown Houston.
Maria Shriver, the Founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and Strategic Advisor on Women’s Health and Alzheimer’s at Cleveland Clinic, was the special guest speaker.
Also with special messages included Queen SofÃa of Spain and Dr. Huda Zoghbi, a world-renowned neuroscientist.
Dr. Laura Baker of the Wake Forest School of Medicine was the mission speaker.
RELATED
Thanks to KXAN Austin and CW39 Houston
Hello from Washington, D.C. this week where your favorite Texas media blogger is asking Houston-area members of Congress to help end Alzheimer's disease.
Don't worry, I'll have Texas media blog posts still coming, just like last week through spring break.
As an Alzheimer's Ambassador, I will meet staffers of my member of congress, Representative Lizzie Fletcher of the Texas 7th Congressional District. If called upon, I will visit more offices until a fight against Alzheimer's is no longer needed.
Here is my story as an Alzheimer's Association, Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter Board Member fighting against the disease that took my mother's life.
If you live in Texas' 7th Congressional District (which has new boundaries), meaning Rep. Fletcher is currently your member of congress, JOIN MY AMBASSADOR TEAM HERE, and we can make sure that Rep. Fletcher along with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz know we are serious about ending Alzheimer's disease!
You can help me in my fight by supporting my Walk to End Alzheimer's Houston team.
For those of you who are not into fighting the disease, I will still have posts for you this week.
Above is a video I helped produce for the Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter's Walk to End Alzheimer's event at the University of Houston held on November 5, 2022.
Media watchers may want to know that KHOU 11 meteorologist Tim Pandajis is the voice you hear at the beginning of the video!
And if you live in Texas' 7th Congressional District (that means Representative Lizzie Fletcher is currently your member of congress), you can still join me to fight the disease as Alzheimer's Impact Movement Ambassador.
JOIN ME HERE, and we can make sure that Rep. Fletcher along with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz know we are serious about ending Alzheimer's disease!
I'm in Washington DC this week for the first time since 2019 to ask our members of Congress to help end Alzheimer's disease.
As an Alzheimer's Ambassador, I will meet my member of congress, Representative Lizzie Fletcher of the Texas 7th Congressional District. If called upon, I will visit more offices until a fight against Alzheimer's is no longer needed.
Since my last trip to our nation's capital, I have also become an Alzheimer's Association, Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter Board Member to help more in the fight against the disease that took my mother's life.
You can help me in my fight by supporting my Walk to End Alzheimer's Houston team.
And if you live in Texas' 7th Congressional District, meaning Rep. Fletcher is currently your member of congress, JOIN MY AMBASSADOR TEAM HERE, and we can make sure that Rep. Fletcher along with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz know we are serious about ending Alzheimer's disease!
For those of you who are not into fighting the disease, I will still have posts for you this week.
Thank you so much for your support of my Steeleworkers 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer's Houston team!
Dayna Steele and I appreciate it in our attempt to fight this terrible disease that took both of our mothers away from us.
Above is a video I produced for the The Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter to show what a special "Walk" day it was at the University of Houston on November, 6, 2021.
Since this is a Houston, Texas media blog, I will point out appearances by KHOU 11 meteorologist Tim Pandajis and KPRC 2 reporter Cathy Hernandez's mother!
You can still donate to my walk team page here.
And you can still join me to fight the disease as Alzheimer's Impact Movement Ambassador if you live in Texas' 7th Congressional District. That means Representative Lizzie Fletcher is currently your member of congress.
JOIN ME HERE, and we can make sure that Rep. Fletcher along with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz know we are serious about ending Alzheimer's disease!
Texas Radio Hall of Famer Dayna Steele and award-winning director Marley Singletary present The Woman in the Mirror, a dark and uplifting comedy adapted from Steele‘s book, "Surviving Alzheimer’s With Friends, Facebook and a Really Big Glass of Wine."
For the play's premiere, Steele will star as herself along with Chris King playing the role of best friend, confidant, stage manager, shoulder to cry on, and voice of reason.
The play is a dose of therapy and sanity along with laughter and wine because when it comes to Alzheimer's if you don't laugh, you'll cry. Produced by Blue Squirrel Productions, the play will run from November 4th, 2021, until November 14th at MATCH, Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston, located at 3400 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002.
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Steeleworkers unite to fight Alzheimer's disease!
I've given you free Texas media news for 16 years, now I need your help! I'm teaming up with Dayna Steele to unite the 101 KLOL Steeleworkers and end Alzheimer's!
Both of our mothers died from this terrible disease.
Please join or donate to our "Steeleworkers" Walk to End Alzheimer's team today!
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In her best-selling memoir, Steele candidly chronicled her mother’s journey with Alzheimer’s on Facebook with unfiltered observations and dark humor. Now, audiences will be met with Steele’s signature refreshing honesty laced with biting humor that stands testament to her personal strength and resiliency in the face of extraordinary and unexpected circumstances. This is a story about surviving Alzheimer’s while keeping your humor and sanity intact.
When her mother, Fran Nicholson, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013, Steele began posting Facebook messages detailing the family’s alarming and shocking struggles, which turned into a therapeutic support and information community encompassing thousands of followers.
As a continuation of her humor and raw emotion in navigating a heartbreaking Alzheimer’s journey, The Woman in the Mirror is a living caregiver’s manual for navigating the disease from diagnosis through the inevitable end, and it does so with love, laughter, wit and wine. Steele extends her compassion for helping families better understand critical issues associated with Alzheimer’s care by incorporating interviews with experts in neurology, long-term care insurance, caregiving, documentation, elder care legal issues and assisted living.
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“Throughout my mother’s Alzheimer’s journey, I needed to live, laugh, love, cry and even rage at the disease,” said Steele. “Through this project, the audience is given permission to have those same fluctuating emotions and also to benefit from practical information and the insights offered by subject matter experts.”
The Woman in the Mirror is written and directed for the stage by Marley Singletary and is co-produced by Steele, Singletary, and public relations professional Melissa Stevens, whose husband succumbed to Alzheimer’s in 2010.
Each performance will be followed by a short Q&A session with Dayna and area Alzheimer’s experts that may include a doctor, nurse, professional caregiver, elder law attorney, assisted living expert, and more. Dayna will also be signing books in the lobby after each the Q&A. The show runs 75 minutes with no intermission.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
All seating: $35.00-$50.00
General Admission: $50.00
Students & Seniors: $35.00
For more information and ticket sales, visit MATCH, call the box office at 713.521.4533, or email boxoffice@matchhouston.org.
About Dayna Steele
Dayna Steele (Actor/Playwright/Producer) is a Texas rock radio Hall of Famer, host of the Rock Star Principles podcast, and a best-selling author of numerous books on success. She is also a popular motivational keynote speaker, serial entrepreneur, Broadways and West End investor (Come From Away, Tina The Musical, Chasing Rainbows: The Early Judy Garland Story, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella), and a former US Congressional candidate. Steele and her wonder husband, longtime NASA pilot and author Charles Justiz, live in Houston, Palm Springs, and NYC. They have three grown sons, one bonus daughter, and the occasional rescue dog.
About Marley Singletary
Marley Singletary (Director/Playwright/Producer) is an award-winning director, producer, and writer. She holds a MA in Theatre Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama-University of London and a BFA in Performance from Baylor University. Upon completion of her MA, Marley began her professional directing career in London. In 2011, Marley moved to Houston, and in 2012, she began working for Theatre Under the Stars in various roles before becoming the Associate Artistic Director in 2014. While at TUTS, she co-created the new series with a focus on new works, TUTS Underground. She later joined HITS Theatre as the Director of Artistic Production. In 2017, she served as the Producing Executive Director at Queensbury Theatre where she developed a professional season which included two world premieres and one regional premiere. Marley’s directing credits include: The Music Man, Side Show, For Tonight (World Premiere), Breaking Out of Sunset Place (World Premiere), Elf, Violet, Unlock’d (Regional Premiere), The Sweet Potato Queens (World Premiere), Bonnie & Clyde, Striking 12, First Date, Footloose, The Evils of Tobacco, James and the Giant Peach, Jr., The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Zombie Prom, and Elf Jr. Her associate directing credits include Oliver, A Christmas Story, Music Man, Waiting for Johnny Depp, Reefer Madness, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Murder Ballad, Elf, Man of La Mancha, and Edward II. Marley wrote the book for the new musical Lady of Agreda which premiered in Houston in March 2020. Marley is a proud member of SDC. She is a newish resident of Charlotte, NC, where she loves spending time with her partner, Fred, and all of their kids--Carolina, Owen, Ezra, and Johanna.
About Chris King
Chris King (Actor) is an artist and performer from Houston, Texas. He studied musical theatre at Sam Houston State University where he received his B.F.A. He recently moved to NYC and is excited to see what unfolds there for him. He is humbled and so grateful to share this incredibly poignant and important story with audiences. He is thankful to God and the entire team for this opportunity and experience. And he thanks you for your support of local artist. He hopes you will leave this theatre experience informed and transformed.
About Kaylee Sarton
Kaylee is a stage manager based in Houston, TX. Main Street Theater for Youth: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!, Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School, Diary of Anne Frank; Lady in Blue Productions: Lady of Agreda (Premier), Lady of Agreda (Staged Reading); Seattle Children’s Theatre: Heathers the Musical: High School Edition; AD Players: God’s Favorite, You Can’t Take it With You, Madagascar Jr.; Sam Houston State University: Assassins, Our Lady of 121st Street, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Clybourne Park. Education: BFA Theatre, Sam Houston State University.
What people are saying about The Woman in the Mirror
“When you hear the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, there is no way to prepare yourself for the many ways the disease takes away your loved on. Surviving Alzheimer's with Friends, Facebook, and a Really Big Glass of Wine is a comprehensive guide of things you need to think of after the shock wears off. Every doctor should include this as a most read for their patient families.”
– Lisa W. Bacon
“I buy this book as a must read for any of my friends who must go down the Alzheimer's path with a parent. The humor, the tears and the resources all help. It's a must read for adults with parents beginning to show signs.”
– Laura Manning Stokes
“I would normally never read a book about Alzheimer’s or click LIKE on a Facebook post about someone’s declining mother. Dayna Steele sneaked past my defenses the same way that she dealt with her own misery – with humor – by making me laugh, she managed to break my heart.”
– Lisa Gray, Houston Chronicle “Gray Matters”
“Parents with dementia don’t come with a manual. But Dayna helped me get my head on straight and prepared for 4 wonderful years of learning, mis-steps and adventures. Our experiences were different but equally rewarding.”
– Stefan Hill
“Yes, I bought and read the book. More importantly, I was a daily follower of the Facebook posts. My dad had recently passed and my mom had been recently diagnosed with dementia. The Facebook community was extremely helpful because I no longer felt alone as a surviving child/caregiver. It was very therapeutic.”
– Harry Dean
Thanks to Houston radio personality and voiceover professional, Donna Reed, for interviewing me on the Spotlight Conversations podcast!
Here is the episode descriptions:
Spending studio time in Houston today with media blogger Mike McGuff. His knowledge of just about everybody in media, keeps everybody 'in the know' about their fave Texas media celeb! Mike shares how and why he got started covering the Houston and Texas media scene - starting with his first days as a reporter and producer at several media outlets including KIAH 39, KTRK and KXXV; covering Hurricane Harvey for British news outlet ITV; the changing rules of media and technology; to his work as producer of the Rock 101 KLOL documentary. He also speaks candidly about his mom, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and how he continues to dedicate his time to the Alzheimer's Association to find a cure.
As you know, when I am not blogging, I am designing websites/digital marketing campaigns, producing videos, working with the Alzheimer's Association, finishing my KLOL documentary or helping raise two kids.
Here is where two of those activities came together.
I just finished producing this 30 minute video for the Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southeast Texas chapter featuring Ray Cordes (served in Fort Bend County for many years), Don Baird and Jim Ray, Ph.D., head of research for the Neurodegeneration Consortium (NDC), a collaboration between MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Reason to Hope 2021 video spotlights the struggles and achievements in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.
Thanks to Laurent Fouilloud-Buyat for having me on iHeartMedia's "Houston P.A." radio show this Sunday.
We talk about how I became the Alzheimer's Association's Ambassador for Texas' 7th Congressional District after my mother's battle with the disease. I was supposed to meet with representative Lizzie Fletcher in Washington DC, but the pandemic stopped that. Instead, the congresswoman graciously met with us over the telephone. Rep. Fletcher has always been supportive of our Alzheimer's legislative asks.
If you can't wait until Sunday, here is a link to listen to the podcast anytime.
You can read more about my story here where you can donate to my McGuff Media 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer's team.
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- The story of Elizabeth McGuff's battle with Alzheimer's disease
Here are the times you can listen to the interview on Houston AM/FM radio:
6:30am - KPRC AM 950
7am - 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ
7am - SUNNY 99.1 KODA
11:30pm - SportsTalk 790 KBME
In 1966, the LA Times Mirror designated her as the “First Lady of Broadcasting.” On January 22, 1973, Judy became the first woman to anchor a daily, major television newscast in Dallas-Fort Worth when she was assigned to the newly created 5 p.m. Eyewitness News on KDFW Channel 4.
She was promoted, along with co-host Ray Walker, to KDFW’s 6 and 10 p.m. editions of Eyewitness News on July 30, 1973. Judy was an anchor at KDFW from 1966 to 1980. She also delivered the news on radio station KVIL during the 1980s. READ THE REST
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| Mike McGuff, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, John Harris, Director of Public Policy for the Alzheimer’s Association Houston |
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| Mike McGuff, Suzi Hanks, John Harris |
