How Jack Hanna’s Battle With Alzheimer’s Disease Is Stripping Away The Man We Once Knew

If you grew up loving celebrity zoologist and animal conservationist Jack Hanna, and his absolutely infectious love for animals, then it’s likely that his many televised interactions with animals of all species gave you the warm and fuzzies once or twice.

In this video posted by The Columbus Dispatch, the outlet shares a look inside Jack’s life after his 2019 diagnosis with early Alzheimer’s disease, and how it has now advanced to the point where he no longer recognizes most of his family.

At first glimpse, the scene that’s set looks breathtaking. Jack Hanna can be seen standing out on a mountainside deck that’s overlooking a deep blue body of water. But, when you look a little closer, you notice that something’s not quite right.

The video shares that after his 2019 Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Jack retired from his zoology work and moved to picturesque Montana. He now lives a quiet life under the care of his wife, Suzi.

Suzi notes that even though her life with Jack has drastically changed, she is so grateful that she got to live her life with him by her side. She explains that she’s always thinking back to all of the life-changing trips they’ve taken together and the people and animals they’ve interacted with over the years.

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Sitting down at their table for a meal, Suzi tries to coax Jack to remember what it was he used to tell people when they asked him what his favorite animal was.

“You’d always say your wife. Do you remember that?” Suzi says with a smile.

To see more of Jack and Suzi Hanna’s life together now as he lives with advanced Alzheimer’s, watch the full video.