Frontotemporal Dementia

It's been awhile since my last post, you can't imagine how busy my "part-time" jobs have been keeping me! I wanted to make sure that you saw this excellent article and video segment on CNN about frontotemporal dementia. This is the disease that my father was diagnosed with in November 2002. Although there are 250,000 cases of it diagnosed, it is believed that there are many more cases that go undiagnosed because it is such a little-known disease. So spread the word if you can. The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias (AFTD) offers information, if you are interested in learning more about this early-onset dementia.

After watching the CNN video, I realized that, as devastating as this disease has been for our family, we are lucky that my dad didn't really exhibit symptoms until he was almost 70. At least my brothers and I were grown already.

This time of year is hard for everyone who has lost family members, and we are no exception. As we light the menorah (not knowing what the Hebrew means, but at least being able to say the prayers, thanks to transliteration and a fairly good memory!) each night of Hanukkah, and as we open presents around the Christmas tree (something my parents gamely joined us for after I got married), we will think of my dad. We can't help it. I try to be happy and think about funny things, because I know that's what he would want. We will also miss my mother-in-law on Christmas, as we did on Thanksgiving. The weird thing is that it's sort of complicated missing my dad, because he hasn't died in the traditional sense of the word.

Sorry if this post is a downer. I don't want you to think that all is doom and gloom - it's not. We are very happy, and all in all, thankful for the many good things we have in our lives. I wish you all a very happy holiday season.