A young mum was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia after believing she was suffering from post-natal depression following the birth of her daughter.
Holly Braithwaite is believed to be one of the youngest people in the UK to be suffering from Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). She began to notice her symptoms in 2019 but believed at the time that they were linked to the recent birth of her daughter Alba or a thyroid problem she had already been diagnosed with.
Her "broken-hearted" friends, Sophie Poulton, 33, and Kayleigh Spooner, 34, completed an eight-mile charity walk in honour of her. The event saw more than 80 people join in on the trek while raising £7,000 for Rare Dementia Support, Teesside Live reports.
The service was funded by The National Brain Appeal and it became a lifeline for Holly, husband Alex and her mother Chris following the devastating diagnosis. Sophie, who also now helps care for Holly, said: "It took a while for Holly to get a proper diagnosis.
"After several different tests and scans it was confirmed it was Frontotemporal Dementia. We were so shocked when were heard it was a form of dementia. Holly’s so sharp, even now, she will know dates, birthdays, what we did on nights out when we were younger.
"That’s the surprising thing about FTD and some of these rarer forms of dementia. It’s not about memory loss and it can happen to younger people.”
Frontotemporal dementia is an extremely rare form of dementia which causes problems with behaviour, personality and language. It affects the fronts sides of the brains and can affect anyone, including people in their thirties, forties, and fifties.
Like other forms of dementia, there is sadly no cure. The Rare Dementia Support offers advice and a safe space for people with similar problems to meet.
It aims to empower, guide and inform people who are living with rare dementia while also providing support to loved ones. Sophie said: “The Rare Dementia Support team have been a godsend to those caring for Holly, offering their expertise and support to the family and so we knew we wanted to give something back.
"When Kayleigh and I went to Alex with our idea of a fundraising walk, he suggested we do this for The National Brain Appeal who fund the service. We have contacted lots of people who know and love Holly to join us to celebrate her and to help to raise money for the charity.
"We’ve also had support from people who don’t know Holly but just want to show they care. We really wanted to just make the day a good one, one that is full of fun and laughter, just the way Holly would like it."
She added: "Holly’s condition is progressing faster than any of us anticipated. As family and friends we are doing all we can to support her and create a safe, loving and caring environment for her during this scary, confusing time.
"We are devastated and broken-hearted to see what is happening to our beloved friend. We know there is no cure and we just want to be there for her and do whatever we can for her, Alex, Alba, Chris and all the family."
If you would like to donate, please visit their JustGiving page.
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