We received this sad information from Steve Schlehuser Friday. Our thoughts and prayers are with Steve and his family.
Update: This link to Nancy’s obituary was found on Steve’s FaceBook Page:
https://pierce-jeffersonfuneralservice.com/tribute/details/94637/Nancy-Schlehuser/obituary.html
Note that the memorial service is scheduled to be held at 2:30PM on the 18th.
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Nancy had a lot of friends from KSA days.
Nancy died this morning. She choked on breakfast while I was out feeding the animals and passed out. We were unable to revive her. She apparently had been unconscious too long and her heart had stopped.
Although Nancy died from a choking accident, she had been afflicted with Primary Progressive Aphasia for several years and had been unable to communicate for the past 2 years. Information on that disease is at the end of the message for anyone who is interested.
We are having a service on February 18th at the Main Street United Methodist Church in Kernersville NC. Nancy chose the church because of its strong music program which she enjoyed. [The church is located at 306 S. Main St. Kernersville, NC 27284]
If you are so inclined, I would suggest charitable contributions in lieu of flowers and would like you to consider the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.org) or Main Street UMC or your own favorite charity.
[Steve’s contact information is available from Bill Cobb at wrc@kurtsalumni.com. It was also included in the mailing about Nancy that was sent to our mailing list subscribers.]
Nonfluent Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (nfvPPA)
People with nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA) tend to come to the doctor’s office with complaints about pronouncing words or increasing trouble getting words out. Their speech may sound slurred, or their voice may change. As time goes on, people with nfvPPA have more trouble putting sentences together, and they eventually begin to speak slower and slower.
Because it primarily affects the front part of the brain, nfvPPA is considered a subtype of a large group of brain conditions called frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
What Causes nfvPPA?
The cause of nfvPPA is unknown. Scientists know that in nfvPPA there is a build up of one of two proteins, either tau or TDP-43, usually in the front left part of the brain, which controls speech and language. These proteins occur normally, but we do not yet understand why they build up in large amounts in this brain area. As more and more protein builds up in those brain cells, the cells lose their ability to function and eventually die. This causes the brain to shrink.
How is Age Related to nfvPPA?
Most people with nfvPPA start to have symptoms in their 60s, although some people have shown signs earlier or later.
What Happens in nfvPPA?
People with nfvPPA gradually have more trouble expressing themselves, even though they still understand the meaning of words. They might begin speaking in shorter phrases or pausing mid-sentence or mid-word. They may have increasing difficulty with pronouncing or mixing up sounds in familiar words. People with nfvPPA may have trouble understanding sentences that are long or grammatically complex, and it may be hard for them to use correct grammar. Other people may have a hard time understanding what the person with nfvPPA is trying to say. Speaking on the phone or in groups of people may be particularly difficult. Over time, people with nfvPPA may begin to use short sentences, omitting smaller words, like articles and adjectives. Reading and writing skills usually remain good in people with nfvPPA, so you might consider using a board or number of pictures to help the person express their meaning. Skills with numbers, colors and shapes generally remain intact, as do skills involving face and emotion recognition.
In advanced nfvPPA, people may have such difficulty saying words out loud that they might stop speaking completely, and they may become depressed, anxious or indifferent. Difficulties with planning and judgment may also happen. People with nfvPPA may have trouble with movement, especially on the right side of the body, such as difficulty moving the right arm or leg. People with nfvPPA may also have difficulty swallowing, which could become serious enough to interfere with eating and puts them at risk for infections like pneumonia.
nfvPPA is a disease that changes with time. A person with nfvPPA can live many years with the disease. Research has shown that a person with nfvPPA may live an average of 8–10 years with the disease, although this can vary from person to person.
