by Nyla Gerhardt

My husband of 43 years was diagnosed with FTD in 2018, though we started noticing changes in him as early as 2016. Brad was a dedicated police officer for 24 years, working his way from patrol to field officer trainer, then to sergeant, and ultimately lieutenant, and was elected county sheriff, a post which he held for eight years until retiring at age 53. We were blessed with three sons who have given us eight grandchildren.

Since his diagnosis, my husband has lost his driver’s license, along with most of the attributes that allowed him to have a successful career in law enforcement. Fortunately, he has maintained his great sense of humor, and remains upbeat most of the time.

We’ve struggled to find things that pique his interest and keep his attention, but we recently stumbled upon an activity that seems to bring him joy. Friends of ours came over for a Friday night visit, and were able to coax my husband into playing a game with us. Our friends taught us how to play dominoes, and because he enjoys tasks that involve counting, matching the number of dots on the dominoes kept Brad engaged.

The following morning we went to the store and bought our own set. We play by the rules (sort of!) until one of us wins, and then we continue playing by our own rules until all of the tiles are used up. I cherish these simple moments of interaction and laughter, with the occasional touch of hands and a glance from my husband with that old familiar twinkle dancing across his big blue eyes. I realize that even this won’t last forever, but for now I feel blessed to have found an activity that strengthens our connection. Life, even amid FTD, is full of little moments worth celebrating. If we choose to notice them, these moments can become memories that we cherish for a lifetime.