Setting yourself free

Have you ever been so mad that your head feels like it is exploding? Or, so terrified, that you can’t breathe and you feel like you are going to pass out? Being human will bring on all sorts of moods and emotions. Fortunately, most of us manage to work through these difficult periods, but at what cost? A serious illness, accident or just plain bad luck? The movie, The Secret, tells us about the Law of Attraction–whatever you focus your attention on, you will get more of... 

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How does my husband feel about having dementia?

In my earlier posts, I told you about my husband, Dave, 59, who has Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). I am trying to understand what it is must be like for Dave, waking up in the morning knowing he has dementia–with no known cure or drugs slowing it down.  Does he feel angry, sad or confused? Does he have the insight to realize he is changing? Is he afraid of his future? Since FTD affects the language area, our conversations are becoming shorter and simpler. I am making notes while Dave... 

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How are my kids dealing with their Dad's dementia?

Amy Kyle This isn’t easy writing about how my 2 kids are dealing with their Dad’s dementia because I am not sure.  The bond between them is extremely close; they share their deepest thoughts and tears with each other–not me. I can only tell you my impressions and a couple of comments they made. My daughter, Amy, 25, has had an easier time accepting her Dad’s condition than our son, Kyle, 27. She saw the signs a year before he was officially diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia-she... 

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Running is my Saving Grace for Living with Dementia

Since my husband, Dave, 59, was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia 2 years ago, our lives have changed dramatically. I never imagined that my life would become this rich, and that I wouldn’t change my life now, for the one I had before Dave’s diagnosis. It surprises me how this latest challenge, and the pain of gradually losing my husband of 31 years, is transforming my life.   This morning, I laced up my running shoes and headed out the front door, going for my ‘usual’ Sunday... 

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The Loss of Freedom With Dementia

My husband, Dave, who has Frontotemporal Dementia knows that his driver’s license will be taken away, but we aren’t certain when. We have a friend who was recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and when he went for his initial visit to the neurologist, his license was taken away that day. If someone has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or related dementia, the rules for driving are very strict. If the doctor doesn’t think that you have enough ‘reasoning’... 

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Awakening to the Riches of Dementia-nugget#1

Have you ever been on the phone when someone in your household is trying to tell you something very important and you can’t focus on either conversation? I don’t know about you, but I get flustered and confused-either I turn my back or put my hand up for the family member to stop talking. Well, that is how I felt in the neurologist’s office in March, 2007, when he was giving us the results of  my husband’s CT scan and memory tests. I wanted to put my hand up for him to... 

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Enriching a Life with Dementia

It has been 2 years since my husband, Dave, 59, was officially diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD)and it has taken me this long to write about our experiences. We have been married for 31 years and our life has changed dramatically in a very short period. Before I begin a series of stories and tips on how Dave and I have enriched our life despite dementia, I wanted to share a 2 Part post on what I have learned about Frontotemporal Dementia. It will help you to understand why Dave, or... 

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