Cathy Warner: Durham helping PPA sufferers

I read with interest the articles on Woody Durham and his diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia.

My dad had PPA. He too, like Woody, used words for a living; in his case as a professor and an author. It was difficult to see such an intelligent, clever, funny man not be able to talk. As the disease progressed he too, like Woody, used only smiles as his part of a conversation.

Not being much of a UNC sports fan, I found myself skimming ahead in the article to read about the disease and being disappointed when there wasn’t more. But I guess that’s part of the point.

When Dad was diagnosed in 2012, there was a lack of material about the disease and its progression, especially when PPA is not caused by a stroke. We felt alone, not knowing how to explain it and not knowing what to expect.

Thanks to Woody for sharing his experience and putting a public face on this little-known disease. It brought back a lot of memories of Dad and how he dealt with it. I wish the best to Woody and his family.

This story was originally published March 19, 2017 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Cathy Warner: Durham helping PPA sufferers."