Wife Shares 1 Thing She, Husband Refuse to Give Up After He’s Diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s at 55

What started as occasional forgetfulness slowly turned into serious memory and language problems for Anthony Sandone.

Worried, Anthony and his wife, Karen, began looking for answers in March 2022. They visited many doctors to understand what was happening.

Because Anthony was healthy and relatively young, doctors didn’t first suspect dementia. Ruling out other conditions took a long time and was emotionally exhausting.

By May 2023, Anthony had to retire from his 35-year career in chemical sales because his symptoms were getting worse.

Four months later, on Sept. 7, 2023, their fears were confirmed: Anthony was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 55 years old. This diagnosis changed their lives forever.

Anthony, now 57, has a form of the disease called primary progressive aphasia. This makes it very hard for him to speak and understand language.

Once full of energy, Anthony – a former college athlete – and Karen – a former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader – thought they would be the couple to face the disease together until a cure was found.

They even worked with Mano Wellness, a health coaching platform, to help Anthony stay fit and maintain a healthy diet. But Alzheimer’s had other plans.

“In less than two years, Anthony’s condition has gone from mild/moderate to moderate/severe. There is no one controlling this but Alzheimer’s,” Karen, 58, told PEOPLE.

Talking, remembering names, and doing everyday tasks like using a phone or remote control are now very hard for Anthony. Following instructions is difficult, so Karen limits what he does and makes sure people around him are patient and supportive.

“It was heartbreaking to tell Anthony he could no longer drive,” Karen recalls of a turning point in November 2024. “It felt like everything was being taken from him.”

As his condition worsened, it also affected their blended family of six adult children. Anthony struggles with short-term memory, making new places and sudden changes very stressful.

He can’t use electronic devices anymore, so Karen handles everything – appointments, finances, and household needs – while also working full-time and caring for him.

Anthony used to handle all their travel planning, from booking flights to cruises. Now Karen has taken on these tasks, which has been emotionally challenging.

“The little things,” she says, are what she misses most – things she once took for granted but that Anthony can no longer do.

Despite the challenges, Karen and Anthony choose not to let the disease stop them from living

Travel has been a shared passion for years, especially after they became empty nesters. Their favorite places include Puerto Vallarta, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and unforgettable trips to Italy and Greece.

Cruises are the easiest type of travel for Anthony now. “He did really well on the most recent cruise, and the crew was very helpful,” Karen says.

To make trips safer, Karen upgraded their cabin, informed the staff about Anthony’s condition, and gave him a dementia ID lanyard and a medical-alert Apple Watch.

“I was scared,” Karen admits. “People told me not to go alone with Anthony.”

Still, she stayed by his side. They laughed and enjoyed every moment. Even with repeated questions and communication struggles, they found joy in being together.

“I do not know if that was our last trip. But I have no regrets,” she told PEOPLE.

Karen refuses to let fear control their lives. She almost canceled their most recent trip but realized she would regret not going. That decision changed everything.

The couple also works to help their community. Karen recently represented the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) in Washington, D.C., advocating on Capitol Hill for more research and support.

Her advice for other couples facing Alzheimer’s is simple: “Meet your loved one where they are, in the moment.”

Alzheimer’s has changed their marriage. Anthony is no longer the same person he once was, but he is still Karen’s husband and best friend. They try to cherish every moment together.