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, December 10, 2007

On the Road again...

Well... in about an hour we are headed to LaCrosse again. I am hoping to make it home tonight after the appointment... but the weather doesn't look good here... freezing rain & snow on the way again. Urgh.

The logistics are the tricky part again. We are taking Misty with us & Gayle is going to meet us there. Lizzie is staying home & if I get stranded in Wisconsin my parents are going to take care of her (they are really not big dog people... so Thanks Mom & Dad!). The kids are going to be with my parents again since Brad is working. And lots of friends have offered to help out if we need them! Thank You Everyone!!

I know that it may seem ridculous that I am driving all the way to Wisconsin for this... But if you were living with Cathy day in & day out worrying about this issue... you would drive that far too! If it were a healthy adult... things would be different. But due to Cathy's illness... she is confused, constantly pointing at that area (which is a subject I don't want to discuss yet with the kids), & her showering/toileting is not the same... I won't go in to details.

It has been a LONG week... Calgon take me away!

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