Welcome sewynfarmer. Glad to meet you, but so sorry it is on account of AD. I know you'll enjoy the website. You 'll find lots of good information and support.
I'm from Idaho Falls, Idaho. Not read the entire thread, but thank you, Joan, for a much needed forum. Life as a spouse is so much different than children dealing with a parent. We have lost a husband and inherited a 2 year old child. So very sad.
Jean, I'm moving to Savannah as soon as my home in the Houston area sells. Before my husband died, we lived in Seneca on Lake Hartwell. Lots of friends in the Charleston area and I visit there often. Are you near Charleston?
Thunder, welcome to the website. This is a wonderful place to ask questions, vent and sometimes even laugh. Tell us more about yourself. My husband is 60 and has FTD. I'm 51.
My wife Sharon is 58 and is in early stage 7 of EOAD. Her mother died at age 59 and her grandmother at 56 from conditions that were described as presenile dementia. We suspect that they both also had EOAD and because of that also suspect that Sharon's may be familial. She was diagnosed a few years ago but we suspected before the diagnosis. Sharon was born in Tennessee and raised near Roanoke Virginia. She moved to NYC at twenty and I met her when she was thirty and I was twenty-seven. I thought I had died and gone to Southern Heaven. She was the most kind and empathetic and compassionate person I had ever met. She was also drop dead gorgeous. Every time I brought her home from a date and asked if I could see her again and she smiled and said yes... I wondered what was wrong with her. She was so out of my league. I was hopelessly in love with her by the third date... but it took three years (you read that right) before she said "I love you" to me. It started out as a curiosity... I couldn't quite figure out why she wouldn't say it. She acted like she loved me. It became a bit of a joke, she even managed to find Valentine's Day cards that didn't say it. I asked her once why and her perfectly serious answer was, "I would have to know that I could marry you before I could say it". After three years of exclusive dating I stopped by her place after work one day to see her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me and flashed those incredible eyes at me and said it... "I Love You". With out taking a breath (I couldn't breathe) I said "Then Marry Me!" She smiled and said "OK... When? For 25 years she called me her Irish Yankee Rogue and rolled her eyes at me with that perfectly delicious "What am I going to do with you" look.
Thunder - Thanks for sharing such a beautiful love story. You're quite a writer. I'm so sorry for you. It's hurts so bad when you lose a loving relationship and the love of your life doesn't know you anymore.
Everyone here can relate to your loss and will be very supportive. One day at a time.
I look thru all these places from around the country and all the different stories and it dosen't take long to realize just how many people are affected by this tragic disease. I am from West Olive Michigan whiih is located on Lake Michigan just west of Grand Rapids. The area is beautiful and I would never consider moving. My LO is in middl;e stage AD and we live onwe day at a time without making plans for tomorrow. Just living this way makes each day acceptable regardless of what happens knowing that the next day will be different. Even if it is better or worse it is just one day.
Narvon,PA,South of Reading.Deep in the heart of amish country.Moved here 40 years ago and still not really accepted.But love the country and it's quite reasonable to live here.I have a few good neighbors who helped me out with all the snow removable.Thankful for everyday,one day at a time.
Hi, I am pernord, I have only been here for a few hours and the support I have received is phenomenal.. I am from Merseyside, in the UK. I have started a discussion on the fact that my dear wife is in residential and is very happy and I have been almost on empty with breakdown ahead in empty, lonely, house and life and now I have a wonderful relationship but still love and wholely care for my wife, visiting two - three times a week and providing monetary and emotional support but being destroyed each time I leave to carry on after 42 years of marriage.
I'm Maggs from Adelaide Australia.....not a widow, but might as well be! with my husband in residential care. So Glad I found this site and hope to find some answers and tips
Maggs-a warm welcome to your new support system. This is a place where we really understand what it is like to lose your life partner while they are still alive.
I am Sheri from Minnetonka, MN. My husband has Frontal Lobe Dementia and Alzheimers I think the doctor said it is two different things? Apparently he had a brain injury long before I met him. We have been married 22 years and in a way finding out all of this about him answered so many questions I had spent most of my marriage asking...I work full time with two daughters one now turning 18 and the other will be 20. These last couple of years have been extremely hard on them. My husband is at home by himself during the day at this point but I come home at noon to check on him. I am not sure how to get him to a daycare type place because he does not see that anything is wrong with him. I am sure alot of you must have gone through this.He can not drive anymore or work, and his physical condition is poor as well. Any way I am thrilled to have found a place where others are like me. Thanks
Sherizeee, welcome. This is a great place to find information about dementia, ideas about how to deal with your concerns, and especially support from others who know what you are going through. There have been lots of discussions about getting a DH (dear husband) into daycare. One that has worked for some people is to entice the spouse into going by arranging in advance with the day care for him to "volunteer" there, to help others. I wonder if your husband would be receptive to this approach?
Hello also to Maggs from Australia. We're glad you found us, but sorry you have a need to be here. You'll find this is a very supportive group of folks.
Welcome to all the "Newbies" You have found the Most Awesome Group on Earth. The support, love, information and compassion, (not to mention some comic relief) that you will receive here is 2nd to none. Arms around, Susan
Also welcome to the new posters! I have learned so much in the last few months since first visiting this site.
Sherizeee-You must live near me.
I live about 1/2 mile from the Minnetonka border in Plymouth . I also work full time and am about to try daycare (and should have at least six months ago). I am hoping to start my husband in the next two weeks after getting him one more shot he needs to be admitted. I am nervous about it, but am much more nervous to have him home alone. They have at least one attendee who has early onset demetia, but my husband likely won't know the difference.
My father died 5 years ago from Alzheimers complications, my mother has dementia, as well as my 60 year old husband. I have a 21 year old daughter.