A heartbroken mum has shared her grief after her 24-year-old son died less than two years after being diagnosed with dementia.
Sam Fairbairn remembers Andre Yarham as a "cheeky lad" who was told he had frontotemporal dementia, a condition which affects just 0.1pc of the population, in 2024 when he was just 22.
Mr Yarham was taken to hospital with an infection in December and spent his last weeks at Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich. He died on December 27.
Mrs Fairbairn described her son as having a "heart of gold" and says she is devastated at losing him at such a young age, but she is determined to raise awareness over the "cruel" disease.
'Heart of gold'
The 49-year-old mum: "Andre had an absolute heart of gold and even when he was poorly, he was just a thoughtful lad."
After he died, Mrs Fairbairn took to social media to call on anyone who would be interested in having their "sporty cars" join in the journey to the Breckland Crematorium as a tribute to Mr Yarham.
She continued: "He loved his cars and we have been overwhelmed by the support.
"It's looking like we will get more than 150 cars interested in joining."
She added: "It seems he has touched the hearts of many people. I want people to see it and not be sad. It's what he would've wanted."
'A cruel disease'
Mrs Fairbairn went on to say Mr Yarham's brain has been donated to Addenbrooke's Hospital to help with research into frontotemporal dementia.
She said: "It was much more aggressive and it was probably because of his age that it progressed so quickly.
"The youngest the disease usually starts to develop is in people in their 40s.
"It was not until we noticed little things like a disruption in his routine.
"When we lived in Norwich, he used to go to the shops for his Monster drink but then he started coming home without it."
She continued: "There were other behavioural changes that were completely out of character for him."
Mr Yarham, who lived with his family in Plumstead Road until 2025, was also diagnosed with autism and began attending Fitzroy The Maltings in Fakenham, a day service for people with learning difficulties.
He then attended Sutherlands Care Home in Wymondham in September last year.
Mrs Fairbairn added: "It's a cruel disease. It does not discriminate against age.
"When you think about people with dementia, you think about it affecting an older person, not someone in their 20s.
"But I would not wish this disease on anyone."
Helping other families
Mrs Fairbairn is determined to continue raising awareness of the disease and help other families with loved ones living with the same diagnosis.
She said: "I would like to fundraise in Andre's memory.
"He loved his days out so I want to help fundraise for families who want to make memories with their loved ones so they can take them on those dream trips."
She continued: "Life is short and it's just made me realise that making memories is what we wanted to do."
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a less common form of dementia, which usually affects people younger than 65.
According to Alzheimer's Society, many researchers still do not understand why some people get FTD and others do not.
It is mostly diagnosed among people between the ages of 45 and 65, although it can affect younger people.
The disease is caused by abnormal protein clumps, formed inside brain cells, which then build up in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain - the areas responsible for controlling language and behaviour.
Mr Yarham's funeral will be held at Breckland Crematorium on January 27.
Share