AFTD volunteer Scott Oksaart raised FTD awareness across Nevada in a televised interview. 2 News Nevada and KOLO News Now Oxalert, a former care partner of my late father Steve, shared her experience of her family’s FTD journey.
Oxalert told 2 News reporter Jayden Urban that he and his father had a close relationship, saying Steve was “always there, attending all my games.” I could say anything to him. ”
“My dad was amazing,” Oksaert told KOLO reporter Nick Doyle. “He was a great father and a great husband. He loved Wolfpack football. He loved barbecue. He loved traveling and camping. [being] outdoors. He was a wonderful person to be around and his friends and family loved him. ”
Oxalert said the first signs that something was wrong came in 2018, when he noticed subtle changes in Steve’s behavior and decision-making. As time went on, Steve found it increasingly difficult to control his impulses, and sometimes he would end up eating an entire box of cookies at once.
Steve then became paranoid. “He even said to my mom, “Hey, I’m going on a date with a girl,” which was not true,” Oxalert told Urban. “He wasn’t going anywhere.”
Oxalert also told Urban about the time Steve called 911 to report a body in the bedroom.
“[The] “The SWAT team came and entered the room, guns blaring, ready to look for the killer, but no one was there,” Oksaert said.
Steve was finally diagnosed with FTD in 2021.
AFTD CEO Susan L.J. Dickinson, MSGC, provided background on FTD in a second news report, telling Urban that people living with FTD are “speechless.” Ta. [and] It is the ability to control one’s actions and perform administrative tasks that many of us do every day. ”
In an interview with Doyle, Oxalert described the disease as having the potential to “change a normal person who was once very intelligent and lead a wonderful life, become delusional and severely cognitively impaired, and actually change a person.” He characterized it as something that “changes you into a certain person.” I’m a completely different person than I was before. ”
Mr. Oxalert told Mr. Urban that he and his mother constantly have to remind themselves that Steve is not the one who is behaving in these uncharacteristic ways. It was FTD.
As FTD progressed, Steve began to have difficulty swallowing. He passed away on August 7 last year surrounded by his family and friends. Even though his father’s journey with FTD is over, Oxalert, like many who have battled this disease, is still grieving.
“[His] My grandchildren are growing up,” Oksalat told Urban. “He could have had an adventure with his wife and other family members and he can’t do that. That’s the hardest part to process.”
Misdiagnosis of FTD is common. various symptoms Many of them overlap with other mental and neurological disorders. If you have questions or concerns about FTD or its symptoms, the AFTD Helpline can get you the answers you need. Please contact our helpline. 1-866-507-7222 or [email protected].
Interested in raising FTD awareness like Scott Oxarart? Volunteer activities at AFTD Raise awareness about FTD and give yourself the opportunity to educate others. You can also join our efforts to advocate for legislation that supports FTD research and support by visiting the following link: AFTD Advocacy Center.