Emu Plains: Warren Fowler to marry fiance after Alzheimer’s diagnosis

A western Sydney man’s life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 55. Now, he and his fiance are prioritising making memories while he still has his.

Warren Fowler, 55, was diagnosed with early onset dementia (Alzheimer's) in February of 2025. Now, he's making the most of his memory while he still has it by tying the knot with his partner of 13 years, Katrina. Picture: Supplied

Emu Plains man Warren Fowler and his fiance Katrina’s lives were turned upside down when he was diagnosed with early onset dementia at 55-years-old.

It was the answer to a longstanding question they had been faced with, which impacted their 13-year relationship and almost drove them apart.

But the loved up couple are refusing to let the devastating diagnosis get the better of them, and are prioritising making memories while Warren still has his – starting with tying the knot in April.

The couple, who originally hail from Newcastle, have a love story for the ages.

After giving up on love the traditional way, they met online and had their first date at a local McDonalds.

Warren Fowler, 55, was diagnosed with early onset dementia (Alzheimer's) in February of 2025. Picture: Supplied

They talked for more than six hours before eventually being kicked out of the restaurant when it closed.

Around nine months ago, everything changed. Warren started having random memory loss, confusion and mood swings.

Warren was “shattered” by the diagnosis but has since been able to come to terms with it. Picture: Supplied

The reason for this would not be confirmed until February 2025, when a trip from Newcastle to visit Katrina in Emu Plains landed Warren in the Nepean Hospital for two and a half weeks.

“I was sent home and then we got a phone call to go and see the neurologist and he gave me the diagnosis,” he said.

Warren said he was “shattered”.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, he was no longer able to drive or work – the latter of which he said took some time to come to terms with.

Warren and Katrina created a memory bucket list of things to do while Warren still has his memory. Picture: Supplied

“I’m only young, I’ve probably got another 20 years of work left in me, really,” he said.

“It was uncomfortable, it wasn’t good, but I have good people around me.”

Katrina said she was happy to finally have an explanation about what was happening to her partner.

“When you have an answer, you know what you’re dealing with, and then you can plan around that,” she said.

“He had a lot of episodes of absolute confusion.

“He didn’t know who he was, where he was, where he was living … he’d wander, or if I went off to work he’d be out the front looking for me.”

Katrina eventually reached the end of her tether and moved from Newcastle to Sydney to be with her family.

Now, she says – looking back on it – if she had known Warren was suffering from dementia, she wouldn’t have left.

“If I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have walked away,” she said.

“If I make a commitment to someone, I’m going to stick to that commitment, but it was so difficult and I didn’t know (it was dementia).”

The couple have launched a GoFundMe to help raise money for their honeymoon in Tasmania. Picture: Supplied

In the wake of the news, the couple compiled a bucket list of memories, including going to a football game and a speedway but, most importantly, finally getting hitched and going to Tasmania for their honeymoon.

Warren’s diagnosis sped up their wedding plans, also because the couple wanted their children and grandchildren to be able to attend.

Warren said they chose to go to Tasmania because Warren had never been, despite travelling around the country.

“I just thought Tasmania would be nice,” Warren said.

“I’d love to go to Port Arthur and in Hobart they have really good Sunday markets, and just travel around.”

They launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for their honeymoon which, at the time of publishing, has raised $160 of its $7000 target.