“No Fault of His Own,” a novel released this summer, was the focus of a recent AFTD fundraiser organized by its author Gina Biskupic, a speech and language pathologist and newly minted FTD volunteer.

The family drama is inspired by true events, detailing the story of a man named Geoff and his wife, Karly, as she navigates bewildering and rapid changes in her husband’s behavior and health.

“As a speech pathologist, coupled with my personal knowledge of someone diagnosed with FTD, I felt a story of this nature was necessary to show what FTD looks like before, during, and after diagnosis,” said Biskupic. “I tried to make it universal so that people could more easily see themselves in the story.”

The fundraiser, held July 30 in a West Springfield, MA, Panera, included book signings by the author. Panera donated to AFTD an amount equal to 20% of patrons’ purchases during the event.

The story is a medical mystery that highlights the insidious onset of Geoff’s FTD, which is initially misdiagnosed as alcoholism and depression. Geoff’s increased drinking and a loss of interest in his work and hobbies lead to him losing his job. He becomes confused, lethargic, and struggles to process conversations, all while neglecting his self-care and losing over 30 pounds. Karly also notices a lack of emotion and initiative.

A brain MRI leads Karly to research symptoms of FTD, such as inappropriate behavior, deficits of insight and impulse control, and emotional indifference—symptoms that she notes match Geoff’s changes “like a glove”.

The story emphasizes the difficulty of obtaining an official diagnosis. Geoff undergoes multiple tests, including CT scans, blood work, and a spinal tap, with doctors eventually confirming a dual diagnosis of FTD-ALS, accounting not only for Geoff’s behavioral changes but also his rapid physical decline and breathing difficulties.

Karly’s role as a caregiver is a central theme, as she takes on the responsibility of managing Geoff’s care, including his medical needs, finances, and navigation of the complexities of healthcare.

The events of No Fault of His Own play out amidst the fragility of marriage and the reality of friendship. “There is something valuable in looking closely at the unraveling of a family faced with FTD and an unexpected additional coexisting diagnosis,” said Biskupic. It was vital to the author to bring the story far past the diagnosis process, including themes of hardship, loss, grief, friendships and reimagining life after being a care partner, a spouse, a sibling, and a child to someone with FTD. “There had to still be hope at the end and it is there. It’s not an unhappy ending, surprisingly—readers may know where the story is going, but it’s important that they see that a positive perspective is possible.”