NATCHEZ — Sandra Frank is like lots of grandmothers — she loves to work puzzles, build crafts and read whatever she can download on her Kindle.

With an infectious laugh, quick recollection and sparkle in her eye, you would never guess that she is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

It was one morning in 2007 when Sandra’s daughter-in-law, Pam, smelled gas outside Sandra’s house on the property the family shares in Natchez.

“I was just thinking there was a gas leak,” Pam said. “The closer I got, the stronger the smell got, and when I walked into the house, I got an instant headache. The stove was on.”

Small signs of a problem had surfaced before that, but leaving the gas on was too big of a deal, and too dangerous, for the family to ignore.

A research paper written by Sandra’s grandson, at the time a junior at Adams County Christian Academy, focused on Alzheimer’s disease. His research and his grandmother’s behavior helped the family put two-and-two together.

Since Sandra was diagnosed, she has not lost her spirit, even though she willingly let go of a few things.

“I gave up my keys,” Sandra said.

Because Sandra tends to get immersed in activity, she sometimes forgets that she is supposed to be multitasking.

“For instance, I had biscuits in the oven, and I looked down and they were on fire,” Sandra said. “I get focused on something and get obsessed. So I’ve been cooking less.”

The Franks said Sandra recently developed Sundowner’s Syndrome — which intensifies the effects of Alzheimer’s at night.

“We have some good days, and some bad days,” said Pam, who moved into Sandra’s house with her husband. Pam spends every day with Sandra, and that is OK, because they have a strong friendship.

Pam and Sandra said the drug Aricept has worked wonders, keeping Sandra alert and focused. The drug is designed to dramatically slow the effects of the disease.

But the best treatment, they both agreed, is laughter.

“We elect to laugh,” Pam said.

Sandra said laughing, fussing and joking with her family and friends is her way of coping, and it works.

“People say they can’t tell that I have it,” Sandra said. “But they don’t see me at my bad times.”

The Franks said in the past, and even for some families now, acknowledging Alzheimer’s is taboo. But ignoring signs that something is not quite right with a loved one only hurts in the end.

“We don’t believe in hush-hush,” Sandra said. “I don’t do well with secrets anyway.”

Because the Franks are committed to fostering dialogue surrounding Alzheimer’s disease, they started an awareness walk last year. This year’s walk is scheduled for Saturday on the Natchez bluff and is called the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association uses money raised by the walk to promote awareness and education in Mississippi.

Besides keeping laughter alive at their house, the Franks have a saying that helps them get through every day: “It is what is.”

“We just take it one day at a time,” Sandra said. “I plan to keep going. Life goes on, you just have to continue to do the things you do.”

The Franks said Alzheimer’s came as a shock to them, since it never had a presence in the family. Pam said that alone is a reason every person should be aware of the disease, and plenty of literature and information will be available at the walk.

“If you think that something is just not right, and you might not even want to talk about it, you can get information to take home and read,” Pam said. “It’s very important that people aren’t ashamed.”

Sandra, who was employed with the Mississippi Employment Security Commission for 31 years, said she is lucky her friends love her slight “craziness.”

“It’s important to be accepted in spite of what I have,” Pam said. “Not rejected because of what I have.”

Sandra said one of the most frustrating aspects of having Alzheimer’s is not being able to mentally organize life in chronological order.

“I just can’t place memories in time,” Sandra said.

Pam said that memory is never guaranteed.

“There’s a saying,” Pam said. “You’ll always have your memories. But, you might not.”

Several thousand dollars have been donated for the walk so far, the biggest donation of more than $4,000 coming from Natchez High School students, who paid to wear jeans to class one day. Fifty-three individuals have already registered to walk, and Pam said she expects more will sign up on the website before then, and also show up the day of.

To donate, or join a team, visit www.alz.org, click “walk” and enter zip code 39120, and click Natchez. Or contact Pam at 601-597-4705 or by e-mail at frankpamela@bellsouth.net.

Walk registration opens at 8 a.m. Saturday at the gazebo on the bluff, and ends around noon. Pam said approximately three downtown blocks will be designated for the walk.