Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County executive director Stephanie Taylor speaks during the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County's 7th annual Butterfly Hope Luncheon at the Rose Garden Center in Tyler on Thursday Nov. 1, 2018. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

When Madison Cowan left his parents’ home, one of his biggest goals was to one day return just to rub his success in the face of his very strict father.

Growing up, Cowan said he often received harsh corporal punishment and less attention from his father than some of his siblings.

Initially after hearing his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Cowan’s reaction was harsh.

“When I first was told of his condition, my immediate and my most honest thought was ‘good on him, he deserved it,’” Cowan said to a crowd of around 260 people at the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County’s seventh annual Butterfly Hope Luncheon on Thursday. “Imagine that? Saying that about your own family.”

But eventually Cowan grew to sympathize with his father — who suffered with the disease for 15 years until his death. Unfortunately for Cowan, it would not be the last time dementia would affect his life.

His wife’s father and daughter’s grandmother both suffer from dementia. Additionally, Cowan said six of his father’s eight siblings died from the disease.

After winning three consecutive episodes of Food Network’s Chopped and becoming the show’s first grand champion in 2010, Cowan decided to use his newfound fame to become an advocate for several causes, including Alzheimer’s awareness.

During the luncheon at the Rose Garden Center, Cowan described dementia as being a bully and a thief 

“In my mind, ultimately there is only one way to deal with a bully and a thief and that’s directly, full-on and positive,” he said. “Yet, wisely and with compassion for our loved ones, family members and caregivers.

“Let it know that if it comes for one of us, it’s going to have to come to all of us,” he added.

At the event, Bishop Joseph Strickland, of the Diocese of Tyler, was honored with this year’s Butterfly Hope Award. Stephanie Taylor, executive director at the alliance, said the butterfly is a symbol of endurance, change, hope and life and is designed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the alliance.

Upon receiving the honor, Strickland told caregivers and others who have been affected by dementia to never lose faith.

“Those of you who are presently in the midst of this struggle of Alzheimer’s or dementia in whatever form, I urge and encourage you to know the precious gift of life is there,” he said. “Where there is life there is hope and there is the mystery of God’s plan unfolding.

“Thanks to the Alzheimer’s Alliance here in this area that supports those on this difficult journey,” he said. “Let us continue to support this organization so that they can do the great work of being a hand to hold, a friend to talk to … a supportive presence on a difficult journey.”

Before the luncheon began, Cowan spoke to a group of Whitehouse ISD culinary arts students who seated and greeted attendees at the event. Among the questions were how Cowan was able to be successful competing on Chopped.

“I had no idea what was in those baskets,” he said. “I knew that I could cook well and I knew that I loved to cook.

“The woman I was reared by, she would make just these beautiful massive meals with very little — these feasts, with nothing at all,” he said. “I had that in my background. So it was just a matter of just toning up and just doing my best.”

One student shared that their father recently told them that Alzheimer’s runs in the family and they feared they would one day have the disease.

“What you just said you said, ‘I know I’m going to get it,’ I don’t even think that way,” Cowan said to the student. “We don’t want it to happen and we don’t know.

“What we do know and what we’re responsible for is the here and the now,” Cowan said. “So live your best life the best that you can … and we will deal with whatever comes, when and if it comes.”

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