Episode 13- A Surgeon’s Hands, A Husband’s Heart: Navigating His Wife’s Early Onset Alzheimer’s

This week on Call the Nurse, Mindie sits down with Dr. Donald Wiss — a world-renown orthopedic surgeon whose career has shaped hospitals, trained future surgeons, and changed countless lives. Known for his skill, precision, and decades of leadership in orthopedic trauma, Dr. Wiss built a reputation many physicians spend a lifetime chasing.

But in this conversation, we explore the moment his life took a turn that no amount of medical training could prepare him for.

When his wife was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, Dr. Wiss made the extraordinary and deeply personal decision to retire early from a thriving surgical career to become her full-time caregiver. He opens up about that choice — the love behind it, the grief within it, and the identity shift that comes when someone who saves others for a living suddenly has to save the person they love most. He shares his incredible story in his memoir, One Life, No Rehearsal: A Surgeon’s Memoir of Healing, Heartbreak & Legacy.

We talk about the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s that families often overlook, the diagnostic process, and what interventions may help slow progression. But more importantly, we talk about what it means to show up for someone as a husband, not just a physician — the tenderness, the exhaustion, the heartbreak, and the moments of grace.

This conversation is for anyone caring for a parent, a partner, or a loved one… anyone worried about memory loss… and anyone who needs to hear that even in the hardest journeys, love still finds a way to speak.

It’s medical. It’s human. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful.

And like all the stories that don’t make it into the chart — it’s worth listening to.

🎙️Connect with Mindie!

IG: @callthenursepodcast

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Connect with Dr. Wiss!

Email: donaldwissmd@gmail.com

Purchase Dr. Wiss's Memoir- https://a.co/d/4CUBz12

All proceeds go to OPICA Adult Day Care & Counseling Center or visit ⁠https://www.opica.org/⁠ to donate!

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