"The Progression of Alzheimer's Through My Mom's Crocheting" NFT Auction
Ends 8:00PM EST on November 13, 2021
About the NFT:
This 1-of-1 NFT represents a photo of Rene Wuillermin's crochet work, which visually illustrates her decline from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The photograph, titled “The Progression of Alzheimer's Through My Mom's Crocheting,” made headlines worldwide in 2017 after being posted on Reddit by her daughter, Sara Wuillermin, and garnered more than 1.5 million views, receiving attention from Bill Gates, People Magazine, and the Today Show. While the majority of the sale of the NFT will pay for her mother's ongoing care expenses, Wuillermin and NetGems will also be donating 20% of proceeds from the NFT sale to support charities focused on Alzheimer’s advocacy and caretaker support, including the Alzheimer’s Association and HFC.
About Sara:
Sara Wuillermin returned to New Jersey in 2020 to be closer to her mother, Rene, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2005. Rene spent nearly 30 years as a registered nurse, work that she not only considered her career but also her life's purpose. (Her dedication to helping others was such a strong part of her being, and even when she forgot other aspects of herself, she would still declare to people late into her disease, “I am a nurse.”)
Inspired by the selfless way her mom cared for others, Sara has tried to find ways to emulate that example (without having to deal with blood and needles as much). After attending INELDA’s End of Life Doula training, she's been dedicated to ensuring that individuals are cared for with dignity and honor during their dying experience. She’s also created space where people can talk about their own experiences through her podcast “Bury Me in New Jersey.” Sara also writes candidly about the mental and physical tolls that Alzheimer's diagnoses have on individuals and families on her site.
Behind Sara's NFT:
Sara created this NFT representing her mom's crochet work to help cover the costs associated with her mom’s at-home care (which she has been receiving for the past 16 years), to provide respite to other families who desperately need assistance with their caregiving responsibilities, and to fund efforts to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Want to place a bid? Sara and her mother's auction is being hosted on OpenSea, an NFT marketplace. Click on the button on the top of this page to be brought to the auction! If you happen to be new to NFTs, here's a quick tutorial on how to purchase cryptocurrency and place your bid!