Joe McMurchie has been looking for his mother for more than a year now.

Joe is the son of Virginia, or Gini, McMurchie, who walked out the backyard of her mother's home in Ballard more than a year ago and has not returned since.

Gini, 57, was born and raised in Ballard, where she had been living with her mother in their longtime home at 28th and 71st.

"A lot of the time she doesn't know where she is or what she's doing," said Joe.

She suffers from seizures and possibly the early stages of Alzheimer's, he said.

Family and friends have heard that she has been wandering around the neighborhood and has even been seen at several locations, including Great Harvest and Rain City Video on 32nd Avenue Northwest and Northwest 65th Street.

Joe has been posting fliers, at the suggestion of the Seattle Police Department, with Gini's photo and his number in those locations and others around Ballard in hopes that someone will see his mother and call him.

"I haven't seen her in six months," said Joe.

Six months ago, he spotted Gini outside of Rain City Video on 32nd, but when he tried to get her in the car, she refused. But at this point, he said he'd be ready to try force in order to get her help.

"I just want to get her help," he said. "She's my mother."

This isn't the first time Gini has disappeared. Her previous disappearances would last about a week or two, but she would always come home on her own.

When the body of a woman was discovered at Golden Gardens Beach Feb. 26, Joe was worried that it was his mother.

"When I saw that on the news, I just freaked out and thought it was her," he said.

The woman turned out to be 35-year-old Rachel Hulscher, who passed away from suicide.

Gini has grey hair, walks slightly hunched over and has psoriasis on her hands and elbows, according to her son.

Joe, at times, said he has given up hope that he will ever be able to bring his mother home safely, but he's feeling more and more nostalgic for her as he takes his son to football practice and games, something he has fond memories of doing with Gini as a kid.

"I would really like my mom to have a chance to see her oldest grandson play football," said Joe. "I would hope that would bring her back to some kind of reality."

Joe McMurchie asks that if Gini is spotted to please call him at 206-790-7085.