Back in February, the news that Bruce Willis had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) hit me hard. Not because I'm a huge Die Hard fan, but because I know far too much about FTD, and my heart breaks for the 68-year-old Hollywood actor and his family. Last April, my sister Constance lost her eight-year battle with one of the FTD diseases. She was 58 years old.
Six years ago Constance was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a form of FTD. It's a rare neurodegenerative disease that begins as a subtle language disorder and progresses to a near-total inability to speak, read, write or understand what is heard. What causes PPA is unclear, but it attacks the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain that control personality, behaviour and speech. It's always fatal.
We Gallaghers were a formidable brood seven siblings from American-Irish Catholic parents. Our childhoods were spent on a 25-acre estate that was 60 miles north-west of Manhattan, with horses, dogs, cats and chickens. I was seven when Constance was born. Finally, I had the sister I'd longed for, rather than a fourth brother (although, in time, I was blessed with another brother and sister). I dressed her up; I spoilt her; I protected her.
When I moved to the UK after my wedding in 1986, that ev no one cried more than Constance. Between my quarterly visits to the States we spoke regularly and stayed close, regardless of the distance. She often talked of her longing to live my life to be married and have a career as a magazine editor. I reassured her that everything would fall into place in time, and she would be happy. I remember glibly saying, 'Good things come to those who wait.' How wrong I was.
Bu hikaye WOMAN - UK dergisinin May 08, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye WOMAN - UK dergisinin May 08, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
What the NHS will really do about bunions
Dusting off your trusted sandals? Some of you might be experiencing a foot problem that nail varnish won’t be able to hide this summer…
View from THE BACK
Isabel Webster says what youre thinking
Weekend FEASTS
Easy dishes for relaxed entertaining this bank holiday
I only send one of my kids to PRIVATE SCHOOL
Jane* worries that her son will resent her for sending his sister to a posh prep and not him
Bare all and...RELAX
Experiencing a German spa where you're expected to go nude isn't so bad, says Catherine Lawler
Men never want to LEAVE ME
Samantha Brick believes knowing what men want is the reason she’s never been dumped
Want the PERFECT SMILE?
Dontworry, we've done the hard work for you these affordable teeth treatments and easy tricks are worth trying
Are you being WATCHED?
After Fern Britton revealed her two-year stalking hell, Woman investigates the true impact such a crime can have on victims
The ROYAL INSIDER
CHARLES BACK WITH A BANG BUT MILES APART FROM HARRY
What's next FOR PHIL?
One year on from his ITV departure, Woman takes a look at Phillip Schofield's career demise, and his hopes for a comeback