The Inspiration BehindThe Piccirillo Foundation "CPalz"
The Piccirillo Foundation dba CPalz was born out of a deeply personal journey that began with subtle, easily dismissed changes. In 2024, my wife, Christen, started showing unusual sleeping patterns, which I initially overlooked. The turning point came one late night when I was driving to pick up our son from an unfamiliar location. My car dashboard suddenly went dead, and it also did something to my cell phone that made it go dead, leaving me stranded. I borrowed a gas station phone to call home, knowing she typically goes to bed around 9:30 PM, but after four or five attempts, she didn’t wake up or answer.
Our son, realizing I wasn’t arriving, called my phone first, but it went straight to voicemail. Then, he called his grandmother, who lives with us, because he knew his mom would be sleeping. She answered, then went to wake my wife. My wife saw the missed calls and voicemail, called me back, and agreed to pick him up herself. Relieved, I headed home. On the way home my phone rebooted. Just 10 minutes later, she called again with no recollection of our conversation. That moment was the final straw. I knew we needed answers.
Initial evaluations pointed to aphasia, but second and third opinions confirmed early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 53. As we navigated the shock, challenges, and search for support, we realized the urgent need for awareness about these overlooked early signs, especially in younger adults. Driven by love and a commitment to help others feel less alone, I founded this 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2024. Our mission is to educate, support families, and advocate for early detection and research, turning our experience into hope for others.
