Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III made an announcement Wednesday morning to inform the community and residents that his wife, Christa Beverly, is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, WUSA9 reported.
“We've decided to take this step of sharing our story, in hopes that other families in Prince George's County and the D.C. metro area, can learn what we've learned: mental health disease is not the end, nor do you need to be embarrassed or ashamed,” Baker said in a letter to his campaign supporters, according to WUSA9.
The Washington Post reported that as Beverly’s condition has progressed and become more obvious, he felt it was time to make a public statement.
In an in-depth look at the Baker family’s struggle over the last two years, The Post reports that Beverly was diagnosed in 2010, just a few months before Baker was sworn in as county executive.
According to The Post, Baker considered stepping out of the race at the time, but his wife wouldn’t let him.
WUSA9 reported that in the letter, Baker thanked his supporters for their “understanding, patience, prayers and for respecting our family’s privacy” and said he will continue serving in his post as county executive.
Baker told The Post he plans to run for executive again in 2014, adding that it’s what his wife would want.
