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)

Monday, May 7, 2007

Bears

Bears... Cathy has never been afraid of Bears before. She grew up in the woods here in Wisconsin. But lately she has been taking a stick, golf club, or rake with her on her walks with the dogs. She walks the dogs around the field a few times everyday. And when we asked her what the stick was for she said, "Bears." She thinks there is a bear around. Yes, Wisconsin does have Black Bears around, but usually they only bother you if you bother them. They have been spotted around locally, but she has never been afraid before. Another change...

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