Editing Terry Pratchett (section)

===Alzheimer's disease diagnosis===
In August 2007, Pratchett was misdiagnosed as having had a minor stroke a few years before, which doctors believed had damaged the right side of his brain.<ref name="ind" /><ref name="scot">{{cite news |author=Pollock, David |date=13 March 2015 |title=Obituary: Sir Terry Pratchett, author |work=The Scotsman |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-sir-terry-pratchett-author-1-3718029}}</ref><ref name="guard">{{cite news |author=Pauli, Michelle |date=12 December 2007 |title=Pratchett announces he has Alzheimer's |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/dec/12/news.michellepauli1}}</ref> In December 2007, he announced that he had been diagnosed with [[early-onset Alzheimer's disease]], which had been responsible for the "stroke".<ref name="guard" /><ref name="headroom">{{cite web |date=4 February 2009 |title=Terry Pratchett: Living with Alzheimer's |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2008/01/29/alzheimers_terrypratchettinterview_feature.shtml |access-date=27 October 2009 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> He had a rare form of [[posterior cortical atrophy]] (PCA),<ref name="ind" /><ref name="scot" /> a disease in which areas at the back of the brain begin to shrink and shrivel.<ref name="alzheimerdonation">{{cite news |date=13 March 2008 |title=Pratchett funds Alzheimer's study |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7291315.stm |access-date=13 March 2008}}</ref>

Describing the diagnosis as an "embuggerance" in a radio interview, Pratchett appealed to people to "keep things cheerful" and proclaimed that "we are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism".<ref name="alzheimer">{{cite web |date=11 December 2007 |title=An Embuggerance |url=http://www.pjsmprints.com/news/embuggerance.html |access-date=1 February 2008 |publisher=Terry Pratchett, PJSMPrints.com}}</ref> He stated he felt he had time for "at least a few more books yet", and added that while he understood the impulse to ask "is there anything I can do?", in this case he would only entertain such offers from "very high-end experts in brain chemistry".<ref name="alzheimer" /> Discussing his diagnosis at the [[Bath Literature Festival]] in early 2008, Pratchett revealed that by then he found it too difficult to write dedications when signing books.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 2008 |title=People: Sienna Miller, Terry Pratchett, Javier Bardem |work=Times Online |publisher=Times Newspapers |location=London |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/people-sienna-miller-terry-pratchett-javier-bardem-0ds9ddm8n0n |access-date=4 March 2008}}</ref> In his later years Pratchett wrote by dictating to his assistant, Rob Wilkins, or by using [[speech recognition|speech-recognition]] software.<ref>{{cite web |title=Terry Pratchett – Biography |url=http://www.paulkidby.com/biography/terrypratchett.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115160514/http://www.paulkidby.com/biography/terrypratchett.html |archive-date=15 January 2013 |access-date=3 December 2012 |publisher=Paulkidby.com}}</ref>

[[File:Terry Pratchett 2005.JPG|thumb|Pratchett at the [[63rd World Science Fiction Convention]] in Glasgow, August 2005]]
In March 2008, Pratchett announced he was donating $1 million (about £494,000) to the [[Alzheimer's Research Trust]] (later called Alzheimer's Research UK), and that he was shocked "to find out that funding for Alzheimer's research is just 3% of that to find cancer cures".<ref name="alzheimerdonation" /><ref name="alzheimerdonation2">{{cite web |date=13 March 2008 |title=Terry Pratchett pledges $1&nbsp;million to Alzheimer's Research Trust |url=http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&archive=0&id=205 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415210729/http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&archive=0&id=205 |archive-date=15 April 2008 |access-date=7 June 2013 |publisher=[[Alzheimer's Research Trust]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Terry Pratchett: 'I am the only person suffering from Pratchett's posterior cortical atrophy' |url=http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/terry-pratchett-i-am-the-only-person-suffering-from-pratchetts-posterior-cortical-atrophy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525055851/http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/terry-pratchett-i-am-the-only-person-suffering-from-pratchetts-posterior-cortical-atrophy/ |archive-date=25 May 2015 |access-date=1 June 2015 |website=Alzheimer's Research UK}}</ref> He said: "I am, along with many others, scrabbling to stay ahead long enough to be there when the cure comes along."<ref name="alzheimerdonation" />

In April 2008, Pratchett worked with the [[BBC]] to make a two-part documentary series about his illness, ''Terry Pratchett: Living With Alzheimer's''.<ref name="alz1">{{cite web |date=15 April 2008 |title=BBC Documentary |url=http://www.pjsmprints.com/news/apr2008.html |access-date=20 April 2008 |work=Discworld News}}</ref> The first part was broadcast on [[BBC Two]] on 4 February 2009, drawing 2.6 million viewers and a 10.4% audience share.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wilkes, Neil |date=5 February 2009 |title='Minder' revival starts with 2.4m |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a145663/minder-revival-starts-with-24m.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007180601/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a145663/minder-revival-starts-with-24m.html |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=14 February 2009 |website=Digital Spy}}</ref> The second, broadcast on 11 February 2009, drew 1.72 million viewers and a 6.8% audience share.<ref name="alz2">{{cite web |author=Wilkes, Neil |date=12 February 2009 |title='Minder' remake drops 600,000 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a146402/minder-remake-drops-600000.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007180706/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a146402/minder-remake-drops-600000.html |archive-date=7 October 2012 |access-date=14 February 2009 |website=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> The documentary won a [[BAFTA award]] in the Factual Series category.<ref>{{cite web |title=BAFTA Scotland Awards – The Highlights – Awards – Scotland – The BAFTA site |url=http://www.bafta.org/scotland/awards/awards-report-2009,1145,BA.html |access-date=20 August 2012 |publisher=Bafta.org}}</ref>

On 26 November 2008, Pratchett met [[Gordon Brown]], then the [[British prime minister]], and asked for an increase in dementia-research funding.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 November 2008 |title=Brown meets Pratchett and ART representatives and pledges Alzheimer's funding rethink |url=http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&id=325 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206110145/http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&id=325 |archive-date=6 December 2008 |access-date=17 December 2008 |publisher=[[Alzheimer's Research Trust]]}}</ref> Pratchett tested a prototype device to address his condition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2009 |title=I hope my sci-fi helmet will halt my dementia |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/83135/I-hope-my-sci-fi-helmet-will-halt-my-dementia |website=Express.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Anita |date=31 January 2009 |title=Sir Terry Pratchett documents Alzheimer's battle in BBC film |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4400955/Sir-Terry-Pratchett-documents-Alzheimers-battle-in-BBC-film.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4400955/Sir-Terry-Pratchett-documents-Alzheimers-battle-in-BBC-film.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The ability of the device to alter the course of the illness has been met with scepticism from Alzheimer's researchers.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 January 2008 |title=ABC News: Alzheimer's Hat Draws Skepticism |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/GadgetGuide/Story?id=4202266&page=1 |access-date=3 December 2012 |publisher=Abcnews.go.com}}</ref>

In an article published in 2009 Pratchett stated that he wished to die by [[assisted suicide]] (a term he disliked) before his disease progressed to a critical point.<ref>Irvine, Chris. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090805175425/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5960166/Sir-Terry-Pratchett-coroner-tribunals-should-be-set-up-for-assisted-suicide-cases.html Sir Terry Pratchett: coroner tribunals should be set up for assisted suicide cases], ''Telegraph'', 2 August 2009.</ref> He later said that he felt "it should be possible for someone stricken with a serious and ultimately fatal illness to choose to die peacefully with medical help, rather than suffer".<ref>{{cite news |date=14 June 2011 |title=Sir Terry Pratchett suicide film prompts 'bias' claims |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13767216 |access-date=18 June 2011}}</ref> Pratchett was selected to give the 2010 BBC [[Richard Dimbleby Lecture]],<ref>{{cite news |date=14 January 2010 |title=Sir Terry Pratchett to give 2010 Dimbleby Lecture |publisher=BBC Press Office |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/01_january/14/dimbleby.shtml |access-date=1 February 2010}}</ref> ''Shaking Hands With Death'', broadcast on 1 February 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Maev |date=1 February 2010 |title=Sir Terry Pratchett calls for euthanasia tribunals |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/01/terry-pratchett-euthanasia-tribunals |access-date=1 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218091050/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/01/terry-pratchett-euthanasia-tribunals|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Pratchett introduced his lecture on the topic of assisted death (he preferred this to the term "assisted suicide"), but the main text was read by his friend [[Tony Robinson]] because his condition made it difficult for him to read.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Martin |date=2 February 2010 |title=A death worth dying for |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/a-death-worth-dying-for-1.1003151 |url-status=dead |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628050844/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/a-death-worth-dying-for-1.1003151|archive-date=28 June 2010}}</ref> In June 2011, Pratchett presented a BBC television documentary, ''[[Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die]],'' about assisted suicide. It won the Best Documentary award at the [[Scottish BAFTA]]s in November 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Terry's 'Choosing to Die' documentary awarded at Scottish Baftas |url=http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1031 |access-date=20 August 2012 |publisher=Terrypratchett.co.uk |archive-date=8 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608035359/http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/?p=1031 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13040095.video-special-scottish-baftas/|title=Video special at the Scottish Baftas|first=Marisa|last=Duffy|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=14 November 2011|accessdate=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230000000/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13040095.video-special-scottish-baftas|archive-date=30 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13228418.stars-shine-at-the-scottish-baftas/|title=Stars shine at the Scottish Baftas|work=[[Glasgow Times]]|date=14 November 2011|accessdate=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230041545/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13228418.stars-shine-at-the-scottish-baftas/|archive-date=30 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2012, Pratchett told an interviewer: "I have to tell you that I thought I'd be a lot worse than this by now, and so did my specialist." In the same interview he said that the cognitive part of his mind was "untouched" and his symptoms were physical (normal for PCA).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9532983/Sir-Terry-Pratchett-I-thought-my-Alzheimers-would-be-a-lot-worse-than-this-by-now.html|title=Sir Terry Pratchett: "I thought my Alzheimer's would be a lot worse than this by now"|first=Elizabeth|last=Grice|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=10 September 2012|accessdate=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413080618/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9532983/Sir-Terry-Pratchett-I-thought-my-Alzheimers-would-be-a-lot-worse-than-this-by-now.html|archive-date=13 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in July 2014 he cancelled his appearance at the biennial [[International Discworld Convention]], citing his condition and "other age-related ailments".<ref name="missed con">{{cite news |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=2 July 2014 |title=Terry Pratchett forced to cancel appearance by Alzheimer's |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/02/terry-pratchett-cancel-appearance-alzheimers-discworld |access-date=30 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225182940/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/02/terry-pratchett-cancel-appearance-alzheimers-discworld|archive-date=25 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>