YES Stories

Author Richie Freiman published his book, The Optimistics, this past summer, a powerful account of three men in their 50s diagnosed with young-onset dementia who formed their own club—complete with matching t-shirts. He connected with these men with the help of the young-onset dementia (YOD) support group facilitated by YES! in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association.

The second annual YES! Care Partner Wellness Retreat was held April 20-21, which gave those caring for loved ones affected by young-onset dementia (YOD) a time and space to step out of that role, slow down, and breathe. Twenty-two care partners were welcomed by the YES! facilitators at Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville, MD for the second year in a row.

On April 6, 2024, members of the YES! network came together at the Alzheimer Association Greater Maryland Chapter Memory Ball in Baltimore to support YES! Board Chair Shannon Hammond who performed as a dancer. All proceeds from this event fund supportive services of the Alzheimer’s Association and critical research for a cure. This year was especially meaningful because YES! Board Chair Shannon Hammond was performing to shine a light on younger-onset dementias.

I was around 11 years old when my dad was diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s in 2020. I was aware he was changing in some ways a year before his diagnosis; however, I did not know why. I could also tell something was different, but this wasn’t confirmed until my mother told me about his diagnosis later in the year. In that moment, I was confused. I didn’t know what to think or even how I should have felt. I wasn’t knowledgeable on exactly what Alzheimer’s was; however, I knew the gist of what was going to happen – he was going to lose his memories.

The winter storm of 2016, a loving husband, father, and grandfather would normally be looking forward to working storm duty for BGE. He loved meeting and working with people he never would have met, if not for doing extra work during storms of any kind.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s/dementia can be a devastating change in a person and their family’s life. Adjusting to new life can seem terrifying. In my experience, it was.

My dad was/is a hard working man who grew up in a blue collar family with four siblings. He worked his tail off to build a good life for me, my brother, sister, and our mom

If you asked me 5 years ago, what are you afraid of most? My answer would be losing someone to dementia. I could not wrap my head around someone I love losing their memory and suffering through such a debilitating disease. Little did I know, my life would change drastically in the following few years.

In honor of Father’s Day, two adult children of parents affected by YOD Alzheimer’s share letters to their dads.

On November 28, 2016, I lost my wonderful husband Ron after his (our) 10-year journey with dementia. He was 67 years old and had been diagnosed in his mid-50’s. I knew something was not “right” long before the official diagnosis, and I chalked it up to work stress!

Ron and I met and married in our early 40’s. We had many dreams and quite a long bucket list. We learned through life experiences that we needed to get started on our dreams. First, we bought a house, then Ron bought me my DREAM car, a green Jaguar.

No one expects their life to be turned upside-down by a dementia diagnosis, but that is exactly what happened to us. At the tender age of 49, my husband Dave, who is my partner in all things and the father of three, was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Mary Jones reflects on the loss of her husband Bill Jones, Alzheimer’s disease with Lewy Body

The slow loss of so much…little by little

For me, many of these were lost long before November 5, 2019

My husband, Robert Baumler, passed away in 2018 at the age of 63 due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia. His death was accelerated due, in part, to medication errors by physicians who do not understand the disease.

Evie Vander Meer’s journey with her husband Mark was featured in the Frederick Magazine by Guy Fletcher in 2019. The story leads the reader through how young-onset Alzheimer’s disease upended life for Mark and Evie Vander Meer, the long process of getting a diagnosis, and the lack of treatment options.