“I don’t want to see it wither”

Photo Chantal Poirier
36-year-old Yan-Ludwick Boudriau is suffering from Alzheimer’s for the past four years. On medication for a year, the pills have caused him to take 60 pounds. Ready to do anything for his son, Manon Boudriau is afraid to see it wither away in the coming years.

Héloïse Archambault

Saturday, 24 February, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Saturday, 24 February, 2018 01:00

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A mother whose son, a 36-year-old is suffering from the “cursed disease” Alzheimer’s captures to see it turn to small fire, and regrets that the system does not permit him to let him go when his life will have more meaning.

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“I am very afraid for the future and I don’t want to see it wither “, launches without detour Manon Boudriau.

“I love it, my son ! assure the woman of 65 years. But I don’t want it to go to a certain limit. For me, when it’s rendered a vegetable, it doesn’t work in my head. “

Yan-Ludwick Boudriau is born with Down syndrome (trisomy 21), mid-level. Despite his intellectual disability, the man realizes that Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, which makes it different, and often cry. He has not yet forgotten his mother, but it is more aggressive.

“I’m tired, with pills and everything,” he reiterates, looking desperate.

During the passage of the Journal de Montréal last October, Yan-Ludwick has it proudly displayed a photo of him when he was a child, to ” return in this body.”

A rare moment of lucidity that shocked the heart of his mother.

“I have a lot of trouble to see quite lucid. It realizes this. “

It was autonomous

All his life, his mother tells of being beaten for her son to be self-sustaining.

Weightlifting, music, jobs : the young man has always been involved in multiple activities. Besides, his apartment in the basement of the family house of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu testifies to the independence it has gained with the years.

“Before the illness, I could go on a trip, I never worried not even,” said the mother. It would have even been able to be my staff of old age. It could be that. “

However, four years ago, their lives took a turn unexpected. Unmotivated, Yan-Ludwick was no longer a shadow of itself.

“He wanted nothing to do !” recalls Ms. Boudriau. I had to bat as he goes for swimming. “

After months of tests, the diagnosis came : Alzheimer’s. Life expectancy ? Seven to 10 years. Over the research, the mother learned that Down syndrome can lead to an early diagnosis.

“I wanted to die I wanted to die with him “, she had thought at the announcement.

“I didn’t want to see deteriorate. It was so autonomous. To see the achievements going, that get lost… “

Future scary

For this family, the future is tinged with uncertainty and anxiety. Still at an early stage of the disease, Yan-Ludwick takes medication to quell their symptoms. The pills have caused him to take 60 pounds in a year.

“I accept the medicine for it to be good. But I don’t want any medicine which will prolong the life ! I see him unhappy, when he cries “, breath the retired.

In fact, Ms. Boudriau worried about the day when she can no longer take care of it.

“There are no resources, they have not planned it. It has always I had to fight to get services. I don’t know if I’ll still have the strength to beat me “, said the helpful natural.

“The day he does will be more conscious, I see. But there are not 50 options, ” recognizes the lady, in reference to accommodation centres.

Currently, the Act on medical assistance to die does not apply to people with dementia, as they cannot give informed consent.

A question that must be debated and expanded, according to Ms. Boudriau.

“People who forget, that you can place in the wheelchair in front of the tv and feed you, I saw it. I don’t want it for my guys. It does not give them anything ! “

“Cursed disease “

By then, Ms. Boudriau learn to deal with what she calls the ” cursed disease “. Dedicated to her son, she will accompany him in death with the same dignity.

“This is my child. I put it in the world, and I’m going to give him a quality of life ! This is not the big luxury, it’s simple, but it is a quality. […] I do not dérogerai ever, I’m going to leave my skin. “