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The show today is a little longer than usual because I had two very special guest in the house. My friends Cherie Conway and Deborah Gardiner were kind enough to join me in the studio today to talk about their husbands and their journey with different types of dementia’s. Both women were caregivers for their husbands, Tim and Ken, who had younger onset with Alzheimer’s and Frontal Temporal dementia.

Both Cherie and Deborah had an extraordinary journey of trials and tribulations, and joy, but their love stories with the men, loves of their lives, will stir the emotions in your heart as you listen to this podcast.
were kind enough to join me in the studio today to talk about their husbands and their journey with different types of dementia’s. Both women were caregivers for their husbands, Tim and Ken, who had younger onset with Alzheimer’s and Frontal Temporal dementia.

They chronicle the history of their lives, their families; who they were before and after their loved ones were diagnosed with dementia’s. It’s a heartwarming conversation about love and loss, and the struggles to maintain your identity, sense of self and positive self-esteem. Finding purpose in their lives today, as they are living lives, they didn’t expect and in ways they didn’t anticipate, and the changes that have come since their husbands have passed away recently.

Their stories of hope, resilience, and going forward from here, is inspiring to me and I hope to others. They share their bravery, their tears, their anxieties, and their hopes for the future.

Starting over is never easy and these ladies may not have all the answers, but they are doing their best to go forward from here. Their journey of moving on without Tim and Ken is not going to be easy, but they are up to the challenge.

I hope you enjoy listening to their journey, and the way they candidly share their deepest thoughts, emotions, and insights. Getting through grief is never easy, but these ladies are doing everything they can to get up in the morning, breathe in-breathe out, and put 1 foot in front of the other to begin each day. They’ve had to learn things they never expected, like living alone or how to sell their home. Removing the possessions of their loved one as they prepare to move. Learning how to start a snowblower and finding moments of peace. Being able to enjoy others company as well as enjoying their own company and alone time.

There is nothing easy about being a caregiver! There is nothing easy when the love of your life has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or Frontal Temporal. There is nothing easy when they are young and contract this disease. There is nothing easy when you’re confronted with dreams that are lost. There is nothing easy about watching your grandchildren grow up without your husband by your side enjoying it with you. This was not how it was meant to be. What is the new normal? Where do I go from here? How do I move on? How do I enjoy another man’s company? How do I live in this house without my husband?

We think the caregiving part is hard, moving on from caregiving can be almost as hard. We have to start again, we need to know how to begin. I hope you enjoy this candid conversation with Cherie and Deborah,  and wish them well as they go forward from here!

Jill Lorentz