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)

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Photos... good memories

Cathy with Maggie (Toby's lab, now the oldest of all our dogs) & Bud (Our lab whom Cathy cared for his last year of life). Bud was teaching Maggie how to beg...
Gayle & Cathy visiting Toby in Colorado
Young Cathy. (I bet she would have Loved Sarah Palin!!) The pic is orange around the corners from surviving the fire they had in the late 70's.
Cathy & Misty as a pup (Thanksgiving 4 years ago)
Ryan, Brad, Gayle (Tiffany), Cathy, (Dusty), & Toby... about 9 years ago
Cathy Grillin... she Loved to Cook! Mmmmm I miss her meals & choc chip cookies!!
Cathy, me, & Brad at a Packers game (Exhibition game in Toronto)
Cathy planting flowers with Chase at her home in Iowa
Just a few pictures that make me smile...
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