Tori's story: I’ll keep fighting for my dad

Five years ago, when Tori watched her dad Bob struggle with a simple task, she asked, “Dad, are you OK?” Bob said no and confessed his fears — he’d been noticing cognitive changes for years. In his mid-60s at the time, Bob was eventually diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease.
“For a while he didn’t want anyone to know,” Tori says. “He’s since realized it’s not as uncommon as people think and that his story can help others.” Tori hopes that sharing their story will encourage people who are concerned about cognitive changes in themselves or family members to reach out for help.

“It can be scary to talk about it,” says Tori. “But it is even more difficult to not talk about it. No one should struggle in silence,” she adds. “Knowing that there isn’t a successful treatment yet is hard, but we remain hopeful. I will never give up the fight for my dad.”

Tori and her family connected with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. For support services in your area, visit alzheimer.ca/find.