Rebecca Luna, a woman diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s, has shared her journey and the early symptoms she experienced.
Two years ago, Rebecca was living a fast-paced lifestyle, but now she is grappling with the reality of leaving that life behind after receiving a life-changing diagnosis.
At 48, after undergoing several tests, Rebecca was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s, also referred to as Young-Onset. She has been documenting her experience on social media, especially on TikTok, where she has received an outpouring of support from followers.
In a heartfelt message on her GoFundMe page, Rebecca opened up about her future and the challenges ahead, explaining her need for help. She wrote, “I am facing a rare form of Alzheimer’s: Early Onset Alzheimer’s. This disease is progressive and terminal, with a life expectancy of about eight years.” She added, “I’m doing my best to live fully, work, and take care of myself, but the reality is that I won’t be able to continue this forever. As the disease progresses, I will lose the ability to work, live independently, and support myself financially.”
Rebecca’s GoFundMe is aimed at building savings for essential living expenses, medications, therapies, and other costs that will help her and her children as they face an uncertain future.
In an interview with Yahoo, Rebecca, a mother of two, revealed how forgetfulness was her first sign that something was wrong. Initially, she attributed it to stress, saying, “I’d been in my job for a few years, and one morning I opened my computer and didn’t know what to do. Normally, I would know where to start, but that day, it was just a blank slate.”
Rebecca also shared more alarming instances related to her growing memory loss. She recounted, “There were things that clearly showed something was going on. One time, I was boiling an egg, and I left it on the stove, then went for a walk downtown, which is a 30-minute walk. By the time I reached downtown, I realized I’d left the stove on. I rushed back home to find my house filled with smoke. It nearly caused a fire.”
Despite the severity of her condition, Rebecca remains determined to stay positive, not only for herself but also for the sake of her family and friends.
