09/13/2026
As a young woman, Katie Monahan Brooks’ grandmother Rita marched into work one day to find a stranger sitting behind her boss's desk with his feet propped up. She let him have it. It turned out he was her boss's son. He was so taken with this fearless young woman that he came back the next day to ask her out. A few years later, they were married.
"One of the hardest things about Alzheimer's is that people often become defined by the disease instead of the life they lived before it," Katie shared. "So today, I want you to know the young woman who marched into an office, scolded the boss's son, and accidentally met the love of her life. That's my grandmother. And that's the woman I Walk for."
Katie first connected with the Alzheimer's Association more than a decade ago while working in home health care. Today she walks with her company, Oasis Senior Advisors, a Walk to End Alzheimer’s Silver National Team, bringing people together through fundraising events and “creating a sense of community around a disease that can otherwise feel incredibly isolating for families.”
Each year, the Promise Garden moves her. "Seeing all of those flowers reminds you just how many lives this disease touches. People who may have felt completely alone can look around and realize they are surrounded by people who truly understand."
Among her most treasured memories of Rita is a Christmas card her grandmother made after moving into memory care. Much of the writing was barely legible. But the clearest words on the card were "I love you."
On National Grandparents Day, we're grateful for volunteers like Katie, who make sure the people they love are honored for the lives they lived. Join Katie and participate in a Walk to End Alzheimer's near you at alz.org/walk. 💜
