AFTD Persons with FTD Advisory Council member Sandy Howe and her husband, Dirk, are sharing their story this Giving Tuesday to raise awareness about FTD and provide support for other families facing FTD. Join us on Tuesday, December 2, by visiting our Giving Tuesday page and following us on social media to share your story and connect with others.

            

I was working as a civil engineer and a busy full-time mother to three sons when I started to forget words, miss deadlines, and lose the skills I had once excelled at. After my FTD diagnosis in 2014, my doctor suggested I visit AFTD’s website for reliable information, and I have been actively involved with AFTD ever since.

After my diagnosis, the downward spiral was scary. I stopped working and driving and had to learn how to meet new people because my old friends were no longer on the same journey as me. AFTD has given me the chance to share my story by speaking at Education Conferences and receiving support from others in virtual support groups. I get to meet newly diagnosed individuals and help them move past the deer-in-the-headlights look.

Persons with FTD Advisory Council presenting at the 2025 AFTD Education Conference. Sandy Howe is seated second from the left.

In 2022, I joined the AFTD Persons with FTD Advisory Council to help ensure that the voices of people living with FTD are considered in the development of AFTD’s policies, programs, and services.

My goal is to let newly diagnosed people — and their caregivers — know they’re not alone.

Join Us on Giving Tuesday

Together, we can improve the journey for the next family.
Together, we are paving the path forward to #endFTD.