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)

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Zoo

Grandma & Chase at the Zoo in 2002

At the Zoo in 2007

We took Grandma Cathy to the Zoo with us today. We met up with Ryan & his family and also took along Sam (Cousin Joes' wife). The Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is the perfect Zoo for little kids... not too big, not too small. It was also perfect weather for the Zoo today! Cathy took my niece's hand and walked off quickly... so we had to keep a good eye on her all day. (Cathy is fast! It is like watching a toddler out in public somedays.) She was on a mission to get in & get out. (as usual lately whenever we go somewhere.) But we did get her to ride the train with all of us. She stopped and watched the otter with us also. (My favorite animal at the Zoo.) A few times she took off ahead of us... but we caught up with her as quick as we could. All & all it was a good day. Nice Memories for us & the kids again!
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