“Either something is wrong with my husband's brainor he has become an a- hole.”
It was the former for Kimberly's 50 something husband. BvFTD (Frontal Temporal Degeneration, behavioral variant) alters the very personality that makes Ike, Ike. “The diagnosis came with removing frustration but replaced it with great empathy and sadness that I carry around with me…I can't put it down…. We had such a great marriage.”Kimberly and Ike are in their first year of his diagnosis and are still coping with the ever changing reality of this terminal illness, the daily grief and loss, the new reality that her husband is right there, but not. Ike was the breadwinner and now he can’t work. He’s too young for Social Security. The CFTC Relief grant helped pay their health insurance bill while also providing resources for continued financial and emotional support for both of them.
We asked Kimberly, what advice do you have for other caregivers to a spouse or parent?
“Cherish the moment. Cherish every single moment.”
Dementia describes the symptoms caused by degenerative brain diseases such as FTD. FTD is considered a young dementia. For more information about FTD or the CFTC Relief Program, please stop by the FTTF table.