AUGUST 2020
CHAMBER CENTRAL A PUBLICATION OF THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
We are sorry to announce that Chad Amond, President and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber, was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) in March of this year. PPA is a neurological syndrome in which language capabilities become slowly and progressively impaired. Unlike other forms of aphasia that result from stroke or brain injury, PPA is caused by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. People with PPA may eventually lose all speech and may not be able to understand written or spoken language. Primary Progressive Aphasia cannot be cured, and there are no medications to treat it. People who have the disease typically live about 3-12 years after they are originally diagnosed. In some people, difficulty with language remains the primary symptom, while others may develop additional problems including cognitive or behavioral changes or difficulty coordinating movements. However, some therapies might help improve or maintain the ability to communicate and manage the condition. “It truly saddens me that my family, as well as the leaders and staff at the Chamber, are dealing with this issue as I cope with this extremely rare diagnosis. And I regret the fact that it’s not curable at this point in time,” says Chad. “I’m sad that we needed to announce this to our Chamber members; but I didn’t want our members to hear it from someone else and think it was a rumor,” he explains. “As the diagnosis proclaims, I’m thinking correctly. But one of my distinct talents in the past was speaking, and my speaking capability is going downhill. I want to work as long as I can to positively influence the Chamber, our
community, and my family.” Amy Amond, Chad’s wife, further explains, “Chad has always viewed working at the Chamber as a labor of love - he holds it very near and dear to his heart. This diagnosis was certainly a shock, but knowing it’s taking away one of the things he does the best makes it that much harder to comprehend. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate all the love and support we have seen so far from leaders in our community and our families. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers!” Chad was named President & CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce in 2011. Under Chad’s leadership, the Chamber has grown significantly and is dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and advancing responsible business development by providing a number See Diagnosis ● Page 2