Janice Dawn Dwyer (nee Fitzgerald)

Hi, I am Janice's husband Frank, and I am raising money for frontotemporal dementia research as a memorial to Janice who died on July 14, 2023. The fast paced decline of Janice’s journey became most evident on April 4th, 2021, on our 51st wedding anniversary. Soon after, we had no choice but to place her in long term care. Jan's disease was caused by a gene variant, called C9orf72. This inherited defect, discovered only fifteen years ago, is the cause of many familial diseases which includes frontal temporal dementia. FTD can begin to impact people in their thirties or forties. The odds of inheriting this tragic gene are about one in 100,00 people.

It is a cruel disease that disintegrates the mind and the body, initially showing up as behavioral issues rather than memory loss that most associate with dementia. FTD is also different as it is a rapid decline that ultimately leads to loss of all function.

Janice lost two brothers, and an uncle to FTD. Tragically her daughter in New Zealand was also diagnosed with early onset FTD.

Recently, the actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with FTD. There is presently no cure and little treatment, but researchers are making discoveries that offer hope.

I lovingly spent countless hours caring for Janice. There were many beautiful moments near the end when her feisty spirit shone as the cruel disease devastated her.

I will donate all money raised, to the Association for Frontal Temporal Dementia, specifically the TREAT research program. This research is underway to develop cures or therapeutics for FTD. The good news is that there is currently a remarkable research effort spurred by the discovery of the genetic link and other findings.

Please honor Jan’s memory by supporting this urgent FTD research effort.

Thank you, Frank Dwyer

Learn more here: : https://www.theaftd.org/what-is-ftd/disease-overview/