Updated 6/1/26, Russell Mangum III
Hello Everyone. We have Russell Mangum II (The Chief) in our prayers as he is dealing with diagnoses of Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease and relapse of cancer (prostate, original treatment 2009). Russell was born on February 7, 1942, and is now 84 years old. He is still living at home with his wife Carole (my mom) in Irvine, CA, where they have lived since 1997. He has been needing (and getting) daily assistance care at home. A recent bout with pneumonia, including ICU admission/intubation, and the emergence of a pulmonary embolism (PE), really took the wind out of The Chief’s sails. He is back at home on hospice care (from the cancer diagnosis). He’s medically stable but too weak to get around on his own. My mom (Carole), though willing, realizes she cannot be the one to give all the assistance The Chief needs. This will be increasingly true as his condition progresses. The hospice protocol dictates that The Chief does not continue treatment for cancer.
The slow progression of The Chief’’s Dementia/Alzheimer’s is apparent, though he still is largely aware if his surroundings, enjoys visits and answers questions (a bit more slowly).
The Chief now requires more hours of personal care than ever before (mainly because he is not mobile at all on his own). Medicare and Medicaid have provided for personal care hours, but only partially what is currently needed (Chief currently needs about 84 hrs/wk and gets about 30 hrs/wk). We are covering the remainder with private funds. Luckily medication and medical treatment and supplies are generally covered by Medicare/Medicaid).
We appreciate your prayers for Russ and Carole. I am sure they would appreciate a call if you ever want to reach out.
If anyone wants to support the existing and increasing costs Russell will be facing for assistance care, this campaign at Givetaxfree.org is a mechanism you can use for that. Gifts can be anonymous to the public if you wish.
Thanks, and God bless.