Hello, Lewy Warriors!

Happy early Easter to all those who celebrate! We hope you all had a wonderful March and are enjoying the first signs of spring. What a lovely day it was today! Let's take a look back at a month of big changes (personally) and look forward to what we've got cooking for April.

March was another quieter month for us here at CLBDI, and for a very special reason! I am happy to share that I've recently married my long-term partner. Between the planning and lead up, the ceremony itself, and the celebrations after... it took up a lot of my time. I also spent some time away after to recover and enjoy the married life. Because of that, there has been a slight delay with our next episode of "CLBDI Talks", but please know that it is still very much in the works and that we plan to share it soon.

Before we do that, we've got another chance for you to win some CLBDI swag, help us grow our presence, and support CLBDI! We’re excited to be launching another CLBDI giveaway later this week, which will run over the Easter weekend and into early April. This giveaway gives you another chance to win a Timmy’s gift card (anyone need an iced coffee?), a CLBDI hat, and a CLBDI shirt! More information will be coming on Wednesday, so be sure to follow along on our social media channels so you don’t miss out!

This past month, we shared the second instalment of the CLBDI Reviews series (once again penned by our founder Carol) on Helen Buell Whitworth and James Whitworth's 2010 book, "A Caregiver's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia". You can read the review in the graphic shared above or in plain text format below.

​The review:

"This book is geared mostly toward Americans and can be dense at times, but it can still be helpful if you want to learn. I would approach some information in this book with caution. Since it is 15 years old, some of it is outdated due to new and ongoing LBD research. Our health care system is also very different from theirs.

What I did like was the general information on dealing with medical professionals and advocating for your Loved One. For instance, their advice on keeping a journal that lists questions and answers is excellent. One needs to be prepared, regardless of where you live, when meeting a medical professional. Being prepared is key to not being overwhelmed. The chapters on caregiving and self-care are also good.

The glossary pages, index, and definitions of the acronyms used throughout the book were helpful. I also liked some of the personal vignettes describing dealing with an LBD diagnosis. Those gave me a more realistic view of how Lewy Body Dementia affects not only the individual, but their family and community."

On the creative side, there is some exciting progress happening behind the scenes. Carol is nearing completion on her next series of paintings, and we are beginning to prepare for our next CLBDI art show. These events continue to be an amazing way for us to raise awareness and donations for LBD research. They are also a fun and interactive way to bring the community together through creativity, expression, and awareness. As we start putting things into motion, we are also looking to connect with local artists who may be interested in getting involved. More information on how to participate will be coming very soon.

We are also incredibly excited to share that we have likely surpassed our fundraising goal of $125,000. We are currently waiting on final confirmation, but this is a huge milestone and a testament to the generosity, compassion, and dedication of this community. Every contribution helps Dr. Pasternak and his team continue their research, which in turn helps support those impacted by Lewy Body Dementia. If you would like to donate or want to know more, head over to The LBD Research Fund & Donations page of our website.

Speaking of momentum, we’re also gearing up to announce the return of our Loonie Loops event this summer. This time, it's going to be bigger and better than ever! We’ve been working on some exciting updates to make this year’s event even more engaging and impactful, and we’ll be sharing more details with you very soon.

As always, thank you for being part of this journey with us. Whether you are here to learn, support, share, or simply connect, you are an important part of this community and we couldn't do it without you. Wishing you all a bright and hopeful start to the spring season.

Best,
Joe