Rich wrote this a couple of days ago. He rides an emotional roller coaster all day long. It is often tortuous for him. It is really hard to watch and I often feel helpless to stop his pain. As I have said before, "FTD (Frontotemporal Degeneration) is NOT a floral delivery." This is what Rich …
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Music sometimes helps Rich to recenter when his emotions are all over the place.
Video honoring Rich and increasing awareness of FTD
Rich and bv FTD (Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Degeneration) Hi Everyone, I know I have needed to do some more posts in my blog. I'm sorry, but FTD has become a huge issue of time, exhaustion and uncertainty. I made this video because something really cool happened: I got into my car and my …
Allison’s Story: “My Papa and FTD”
My Papa and FTD My granddaughter, Allison (age 7), loves to write stories. Click on the title above to read the story she wrote about Rich, my husband and her Papa, who struggles with Frontotemporal Degeneration. …
LIVING WITH DYING
Rich shares a common diagnosis with the man in the linked article below, Howard Glick. They have become friends. Howard's attitude and resilience have already begun to help Rich take a new look at his own disease, Frontotemporal Degeneration. It is difficult for patients with FTD, and their …
SOMETHING THAT WORKS?
Last night Rich played music with some friends. Bob and John have been asking him to come over for their jam sessions for the past year or so. Rich is a drummer and sometimes the rhythms speak to his brain and calm him. Sometimes he feels a massive sense of sensory overload and cannot drum. Often …
THE NEW NORMAL
Many people have been asking me why I haven't posted anything on the blog in awhile. I've been giving that some thought and decided it is because I am working hard at accepting the "new normal." The irony of the "new normal" is that it is way beyond the stresses of the average family. When a …
EXCITED FOR OUR DAUGHTER, TARA
We Can't Do This Forever (Click on the above song title to take you to Amazon to purchase the song.) Our daughter Tara, has produced her original song, "We Can't Do This Forever." My husband, Tara's dad, is the drummer for the production and that means so much to all of us. The song is amazing and …
ANATOMY OF A REALLY BAD DAY
I thought if all I can offer right now is a perspective to help my friends and family know how good their life is, maybe that will help someone let go of some of the little things. Families dealing with brain diseases, and any chronic illness, still have to deal with the "normal bad things"... …
POST BY RICH: Climbing
Ok. Today, I'm in the "cheerleader" mood in our fight for inner peace. You know, if you've read my other blogs, (and if Patty posted them) that my outlook on "the fight for inner peace" has not always been positive. I've had, and continue to have, days where I feel like crap and would want to …