A woman said she ‘cried for three days’ after her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers at just 51.
Three years on, life continues for Laura Granger and her husband Tim as normal as possible.
The western Sydney mother-of-two began seeing changes in her husband of 33 years when he started to misplace objects and not react to things the way he used to.
Tim Granger, pictured with life Laura, was diagnosed with Alzheimers at the age of 51
She told 9news.com.au it took her husband a long time to come to terms with the fact that things were different.
‘He would put the flour in the cupboard with the glasses, leave the front door wide open, his car door open,’ Mrs Granger said.
She admitted she was originally too embarrassed to tell friends and family Tim had Alzheimer’s but has since been inundated with support from everyone they know.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects up to 70 per cent of all people with dementia.
Mr Granger no longer drives, struggles to dress himself, has forgotten how to write and spell and can no longer cook unassisted, a hobby he once loved.
But he can still hold a conversation and continues to have a positive outlook on life.
Despite his diagnosis, Tim Granger (pictured) continues to enjoy the fine things in life
He regular attends Dementia Australia meetings, works out with a personal trainer and is passionate about raising awareness about the disease.
‘I decided I was going to go ahead with it and take it as it is. Obviously, it’s always on your mind but you don’t whinge and moan about it,’ Mr Granger said.
One thing the disease hasn’t taken from him is a love for travelling.
Married for 33 years, Laura and Tim Granger (pictured) haven’t let Alzheimer’s get in the way of their happy marriage
The couple have recently returned from a holiday in Italy, where he ticked Cinque Terre off his bucket list.
While there currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s, the Grangers avoid dwelling on what the future holds longer term.
‘I don’t like to think about what is next or how he’ll deteriorate. We just live in the now and deal with things as they come,’ Mrs Granger said.