Until We Knew is a poignant self-depiction of one woman''s dilemma in love and grief. The
husband of Elisabet O Klint was not yet sixty when he was diagnosed with ALS and
frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This notebook, a retrospective diary, is about the year they
fought against his illnesses and lived with this sorrow. In her autobiographical story, Klint
allows us to accompany her through life as it happened, with the aid of notes jotted down
retrospectively in her diary. Her words grip the reader as she brings to life the struggle that
developed when her husband faced two life-threatening diseases with no cure. She hoped to
be able to understand these illnesses and the suffering of her husband. More than that, she
hopes the one who is facing a similar situation can get comforted and helped.
"I felt supported by many but unnecessarily lonely too.
My husband was not yet sixty when diagnosed with ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Both of which we knew nothing about before the slow and challenging path towards
diagnoses.
I dream that I am speaking for both of us and that we are listening together to the story that I
am telling. I watch him smiling, laughing, and gesticulating to show his feelings. Could I
have made him any happier, more comfortable, or more secure? Or was he happy perhaps,
and even thankful deep inside that I was there for him the entire time? Which of his actions
were really his own, and which resulted from his illnesses? I took care of him and the
increasing needs as the diseases progressed. These are terminal illnesses with expected and
unexpected developments. A day-to-day roller coaster. Each day full of emotions, some
conflicting. A continues battle for someone who disappears.
By sharing our story, I hope to contribute and raise awareness of FTD and ALS. I wish these
pages can somehow educate. I''m convinced that certain areas in healthcare could improve
by much with small changes. "
