Susan Suchan's Battle with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

Susan's Diagnosis and Warrior Spirit

• 💡 At 48, Susan Suchan was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, later discovering she had Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), a rare and aggressive disease.
• 🎯 Despite a grim prognosis, Susan refused to stop living, becoming a warrior to raise awareness about the cruelty of dementia.
• 🧠 FTD is described as a disease that steals your mind and soul, with the individual being fully aware of the deterioration, likening it to a "worm in your head just munching around."

The Impact of Dementia

• 💔 Globally, 55 million people have dementia, the world's seventh leading cause of death, with 68% of deaths being women.
• 🗣️ The disease is isolating, turning loved ones into strangers and causing them to lose the core of who they are.
• ⚠️ Many people are unaware of dementia and have not planned for the caregiving responsibilities it entails.

Documenting Susan's Journey

• 🎥 Filmmaker Russ Kirkpatrick documented Susan's life for 10 years after she gained recognition as a public advocate for dementia patients.
• 🎤 Susan articulately shared her journey during a rare window of time between diagnosis and death, touching many lives with her inspiration and hope.
• 🧼 The film captures the challenges of daily life, such as Susan struggling with basic tasks like remembering to rinse her hair after showering.

Family Perspectives and Memories

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Susan's daughters, Heather and Emily, had different relationships with their mother as the disease progressed.
• 🚗 To create new memories, the family took a road trip to Florida so Susan could see the ocean, a beautiful moment that stayed with them.
• 💔 Emily chose not to focus on her mother's final years, wanting to preserve her positive memories of the person Susan was before the disease.

Susan's Legacy and Passing

• 🌟 Susan's goal was to live life to the fullest and help others find hope and their voices.
• 🎗️ She aimed to leave this life on her own terms, emphasizing that between diagnosis and death, there is still life.
• 🕊️ Susan Suchan died in 2018 at age 60 from complications related to cancer, leaving behind a legacy hoping her film would be seen worldwide.
• 🌐 For more information on FTD, visit the AFTD.org website.