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Home / Lifestyle

30-year-old dad's heartbreaking life with Alzheimer's

By Alexandra Thompson
Daily Mail·
15 Jan, 2018 09:20 PM4 mins to read

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Alzheimers New Zealand video discusses dementia. For dementia support call 0800 004 001. / Alzheimers New Zealand

A father diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease has been given just years to live and is shocked to discover his toddler twins have been given a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the condition.

Daniel Bradbury, 30, who is unable to work, was diagnosed in September last year and is believed to be one of the youngest people in the country to suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's.

Mr Bradbury, from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, inherited the condition from his father Adrian, who died at just 36 from the disease. People with this type of Alzheimer's generally have the same life expectancy as the person they inherited it from.

As Mr Bradbury, who was diagnosed shortly after the twins were born, has an inherited disease, there is a strong chance his 18-month-old toddlers, Lola and Jasper, will also suffer in later life.

His girlfriend and the children's mother Jordan Evans, 29, who cares for Mr Bradbury full time, said: "We were very shocked and devastated by the diagnosis. It was particularly difficult to hear that the children have a chance of getting it too."

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Expected to die young, Mr Bradbury, who suffers from short-term memory loss, confusion and balance problems, wishes to make lasting memories for his family by raising £10,000 for the trip of a lifetime to Disney World Florida.

Mr Bradbury was told he may have the condition when Ms Evans was four months pregnant in early 2016, but decided not to get tested at the time, the MailOnline reported.

Yet, shortly after the twins' first birthday, his symptoms started getting more severe, prompting him to get diagnosed.

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Mr Bradbury suffered from the condition for more than a year before his diagnosis.

Daniel Bradbury, who suffers from Alzheimer's, has been given just years to live. Photo / Just Giving
Daniel Bradbury, who suffers from Alzheimer's, has been given just years to live. Photo / Just Giving

Ms Evans, a former NHS worker, said: "We had a suspicion something was not right but were praying that it was not this.

"We were very shocked and devastated by the diagnosis.

"It was particularly difficult to hear that the children have a chance of getting it too.

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"We try and have some non-Alzheimer's days when we do not talk about it."

"I do not know how long I have."

Mr Bradbury and Ms Evans are hoping fundraising money will give them and their twins memories together before his time runs out.

He said: "I try not to think about it. I live day by day with both good days and bad days.

"It does not just affect me, it affects everyone around me as well.

"I do not know how long I have 'til it takes a real hold on me. I want to be as much of a dad as I can for as long as I can be.

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"As my memory fades I am hoping to create lasting memories for my partner and our children so that one day they can look back on the videos and photos of us all together and cherish them."

Daniel Bradbury, who is unable to work, was diagnosed in September last year and is believed to be one of the youngest people in the country to suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's. Photo / Facebook
Daniel Bradbury, who is unable to work, was diagnosed in September last year and is believed to be one of the youngest people in the country to suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's. Photo / Facebook

The couple, who met 12 years ago, have started a Justgiving page to raise money to take their children to Disney World.

They are hoping to go by the middle of this year as they "do not know how he will be in six months".

Ms Evans said: "We want to raise as much as possible to have a trip as a family and create memories for the kids.

"We were hoping to take them when they were older and can remember it, but that is not a possibility now.

"It will mean a lot to be happy as a family, to look back and remember all the good times that we had."

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The money raised will also help Mr Bradbury tick other things off his bucket list, such as sky diving with his brothers.

As Bradbury, who was diagnosed shortly after the twins were born, has an inherited disease, there is a strong chance his children will also suffer in later life. Photo / Just Giving
As Bradbury, who was diagnosed shortly after the twins were born, has an inherited disease, there is a strong chance his children will also suffer in later life. Photo / Just Giving

Clare Walton, research communications manager at the Alzheimer's Society, added: "Dementia is not a natural part of ageing and it doesn't just affect older people.

"Over 40,000 people under 65 in the UK have dementia, including people in their 30s and 40s. The needs of younger people with dementia are very different to those of older people and there is a shortage of age appropriate services in the UK.

"Alzheimer's Society is currently funding research which we hope will improve diagnosis and support for people with younger onset dementia."

Donate towards the family's holiday here.

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