May 8, 2015

When Illness Makes a Spouse a Stranger (can we talk?)

First I want to thank the 40-50 DUers that knew about my condition and kept my deepest secret.

Why OS doesn't really exist anymore is in an old NYT article below.

I had it long before I was diagnosed with FTD (I prefer to call it brain atrophy from the article below) just before Christmas 2013. I guess I'm lucky, some victims get this in their 20's.

My new symptoms point to me having a second deadly disease (ALS) that will shorten even more the quality time I have left. Projected lifespan 2 years. I'm just waiting to see the specialist for a confirmation diagnosis. I'm in no hurry to get there.

I so desperately wanted wanted to stay on the DU through November of 2016. But I've overstayed my time, it is so obvious. All I have done is ruin what OS used to be on the DU. My own fault for wanting to stay.

On current events. I was asked to do something by a DU Hillary supporter earlier this week. I spent the time and effort. It was pointed out to me point blank this morning because of something I did a few weeks ago, a huge "stick it" was the way it was treated by many. I had already heard it through the grapevine. It still hurt. Since then I haven't been able to stop crying.

And this morning an OP brought this reply: "I think you should delete this thread, because it sounds demented."

On the money in my case.

"you don't have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference." (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/richardmn116455.html)

I've enjoyed being a part of the DU and all the friends I've made here.

As far as OS and life in the future. I won't go out violently. I won't go out on FTD's terms.

A glass to the good old days. To a win in November 2016...

OS AKA Algernon or Don Quixote

PS Make a copy before this gets locked.

http://www.theaftd.org/

http://www.theaftd.org/understandingftd/disorders/ftdal

When Illness Makes a Spouse a Stranger

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/health/a-rare-form-of-dementia-tests-a-vow-of-for-better-for-worse.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

By DENISE GRADY MAY 5, 2012

He threw away tax documents, got a ticket for trying to pass an ambulance and bought stock in companies that were obviously in trouble. Once a good cook, he burned every pot in the house. He became withdrawn and silent, and no longer spoke to his wife over dinner. That same failure to communicate got him fired from his job at a consulting firm.

By 2006, Michael French — a smart, good-natured, hardworking man — had become someone his wife, Ruth, felt she hardly knew. Infuriated, she considered divorce.

But in 2007, she found out what was wrong.

“I cried,” Mrs. French said. “I can’t tell you how much I cried, and how much I apologized to him for every perceived wrong or misunderstanding.”

FULL story at link. Video: http://nyti.ms/1jY2ew8 via @nytvideo



Looking back, Mrs. French thinks her husband's mind began to slip a decade earlier. Credit Béatrice de Géa for The New York Times

May 6, 2015

I was interviewed on live TV while donating blood (challenge to others to donate) updated VIDEO

Video: http://kmtv.video.jrn.com/?ndn.trackingGroup=90837&ndn.siteSection=kmtvstudio_hom_non_sec&ndn.videoId=29027958&freewheel=90837&sitesection=kmtvstudio_hom_non_sec&vid=29027958


I was at the Bellevue Fire Training Academy. No idea this would happen. KMTV was doing a live shot there. I explained CMV negative and sounded like I knew what I was talking about.

I'm O positive CMV negative. What Does It Mean to Have CMV-Negative Blood?: http://blog.inceptsaves.com/blog/2011/05/04/what-does-it-mean-to-have-cmv-negative-blood/

I challenge other DUers to donate blood at an upcoming drive in their area!

OS

UPDATE: http://www.scrippsmedia.com/kmtv/news/Fire-Police-battle-to-donate-blood--302810331.html

By Lindsey Theis. CREATED 2:34 PM

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV)--Throughout the week, you may have seen the #supportblue or #supportred on twitter. It's a friendly rivalry among first responders.

For the past seven years, the Red Cross has partnered with Douglas/Sarpy County first responders for the Battle of the Badges.

"We changed format for a couple years, calling it Protect, Save & Serve to create a unified drive, but we our first responders wanted the competition aspect brought back! Law enforcement won the first few years and firefighters won the last time it was a competition," said Katie Marshall, with

Drives have been organized throughout the week. The goal is to collect 150 pints of blood during Battle of the Badges every year.