In a May 21 article published in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, AFTD Ambassador Debbie Elkins detailed her family’s FTD journey following the diagnosis of her husband, Chuck.

She recounted the first indications that something might be wrong with Chuck, a high school basketball coach and teacher in West Virginia for 41 years and a well-loved member of his community.

“I thought he had poor short-term memory, asking us things again and again.” Even the family dog sensed a change, seizing the opportunity to ask for another walk just minutes after the first one. Then on a family vacation her husband appeared to lose his bearings in an area he knew well.

From there the Elkins family began their search for answers, encountering first the common detour of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Alzheimer’s testing soon pointed instead to FTD.

Around that time Debbie left her nursing job to care for Chuck full-time, and the couple also decided to downsize. The move “had everything to do [with caregiving],” Debbie said. “This could only work if I wouldn’t have to worry about taking care of the house and him.

“His behaviors are different than they used to be, but they aren’t difficult behaviors,” she noted. She said vigilance is required of her and other family members. Chuck will neglect to eat meals or shower, thinking he’s already done so, or will dress in a flannel shirt on a hot summer day.

“He doesn’t remember what I told him 20 minutes ago or five minutes ago. That time frame has shortened to where now he has no [short-term] memory.”

And yet, those who haven’t seen Chuck in a while may not recognize his impairments. He can still carry on a conversation and his deadpan sense of humor is intact. Most important, FTD has not taken from him a lifetime of basketball memories.

David Hannah, an extended family member and fellow coach, marvels at Chuck’s retention of basketball strategy. Hannah went to him a couple of times for help designing plays. “The defensive setup I was doing was wrong and he helped me immensely,” he said. “I find it amazing. If you didn’t know what he had, you probably wouldn’t know.”

An “Honor” to Care for Him

Today, Debbie represents West Virginia as a volunteer Ambassador and recently attended the 2025 AFTD Education Conference in Denver.

“I am very passionate about advocating for him,” she said of her husband, “and raising awareness for his disease, because so many younger people will go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. My mission is to shine a light.

“[My efforts] may not help Chuck,” she said, “but maybe someday they will find a cure or treatment for others that have FTD.”

She understands the road she and Chuck will travel as his FTD progresses, but she’s nevertheless grateful for all they have.

“I believe that there’s a reason God put Chuck with a 10 1/2-year younger nurse, and why God put Debbie with Chuck,” she said. “It’s an honor that I get to take care of him.”

To follow the Elkins family’s journey, visit debbieelkins.blogspot.com, or follow @debbieelkins on Instagram.