Our Families Journey Caring for a Mom with FTLD-MND

It is important to know as you read this journal that this was Cathy's life post diagnosis...

To know Cathy Truly you must know that she was: a Wife, Mother of 3 boys, Grandmother of 9, Sister, Niece, Aunt, Daughter, and Friend.

Our families journey began with Cathy's diagnosis the week of Thanksgiving 2006, Cathy was 52. Her original diagnosis was Pick's Disease/FTD. Looking back her symptoms most likely began 3-5 years before diagnosis. Most of the Doctors have told us that from onset of symptoms to death... the average timeframe is 4-7 years. (sigh) In the end her brain autopsy showed Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration with Motor Neuron Disease FTLD-MND. (Basically... Frontal Lobe Dementia with Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Home


Porch view of Cathy's front yard

These are some pictures of Cathy's home in Wisconsin. I have been going to Wisconsin with their family for over 15 years now. It feels like home to me. You know that feeling you get, after being away on vacation & you are driving home, the closer you get to home the better you feel. I Love taking our kids there, making memories with them, relaxing on the porch, the crisp air that smells like pine trees (unlike the hog farms of Iowa, don't get me wrong... I am a proud Iowa Farmgirl!), camping at the lake, trailriding in the bottoms, exploring down by the river, playing cards at night, shopping with Barb, going to the Harley Shop with Gary, stopping by the apple farm, & I Love that when we cross the Mississippi our kids get excited! I Love that Chase knows where to turn & what the name of the towns are. He gets so excited to tell his sister where we are... so many great things!

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