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Woman Is Diagnosed With Dementia - So Her Husband of 55 Years Makes a Vow
Love Stories

Woman Is Diagnosed With Dementia - So Her Husband of 55 Years Makes a Vow

Just in case you think true love is dead, think again. In a real-life story straight out of The Notebook, one husband is making sure that his wife (who suffers from dementia) is living her best life. Each and every day. And if this doesn't make the most skeptical among us believe in the power of love, nothing will. All in the Name of LoveIt's been 55 years since Jim and Maureen of Sydney, Australia said "I Do." Their love story began on Queenscliff Beach, the site of their first date decades ago.It's a beach they still frequent multiple times a week.“Our first date was to go to Queenscliff Beach, that’s the first time I held Maureen’s hand,” Jim told the Manly Observer. "And every day when I come to the beach, we walk down to Queenscliff and I remind her that this is where we first held hands." "But she doesn’t understand,” he added, tears in his eyes.Sadly, four years ago, Maureen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. In 2021, during a stint in the hospital, doctors told Jim that his wife had very little time left. Despite the fact that Maureen no longer remembered much of their life together, Jim decided then and there to make it his mission to make every day they had left count.He's held onto that promise. For three years...and counting. Husband’s Sweet Gesture for Wife With Dementia“My philosophy is each day, I want to give Maureen the best day she can have. That statement stems from when she came out of the hospital, and each day could have been her last," Jim said.Part of that includes taking Maureen for a lunch date and a stroll along their favorite beach at least three days a week. It was during their walks that Jim noticed something heartbreaking. Maureen would attempt to engage passersby, often reaching out to try to touch their hands. Almost always, she was ignored. Jim knew, after speaking to a friend whose father had dementia, that this kind of physical connection was a way for Maureen to communicate with folks around her. “He was telling me that, right at the end, the last days with his dad, they [communicate] by signals of squeezing hands and so on, so taking in a whole lot more than they realised,” Jim explained.Jim wanted to prove to his wife that while she may not remember who she is, she isn't forgotten. He enlisted the help of a local design and print studio, CRE8withJAZ.He had a t-shirt custom-made with the words, "My beautiful wife has dementia. Please say "Hello" to her," emblazoned across it.It worked.Spreading a Message About People With DementiaOnce Jim started wearing the shirt on their dates, people began to take notice of Maureen. In fact, the results were overwhelming.“What surprised me initially was that so many people were foreign tourists from all over the world," he said. And just by taking a moment or two to acknowledge the couple has made a real impact in their lives. “I’d really like to thank all the people that have stopped by and had a chat to Maureen, they really brighten her day, which brightens mine."Jim hopes sharing his story will spread an important message about people with Alzheimer's and dementia."[They] are living people and should be treated that way."He added that being a caregiver has given him a whole new perspective on the importance of seeing and validating the people around us. “I’m no expert, but as I walk along Manly Beach, I’ve been doing it for four years, I noticed a lot of people with some sort of handicap or were walking with a carer that looked lonely. I’ll go up to them and say hello, to have a chat to them and I think more people should do that and just notice the people around them.”The Love of a LifetimeIt's obvious that when Jim vowed to love, honor, and cherish Maureen through sickness and in health five decades ago, he meant it. As difficult and heartbreaking as it is to watch the person we've spent a lifetime loving slowly slip away, it is heartening to know that love still finds its way. And their grandson, Noah, confirms it. In a comment on social media, he wrote:"That’s my beautiful grandparents! I have never seen someone Iove another person as much as these two love each other and I hope I can take care of someone the way my Poppy does one day."It's stories like these that fuel the hopeless romantic in us. But they also remind us of just how precious love is.The reality is that none of us know how much time we have with the ones we love. And while we may not be able to control time or what life throws at us, we can do our best to make the most of every single minute. More from Goalcast:Dad With Dementia Has a Heartwarming Realization Right Before Daughter’s Wedding81-Year-Old With Dementia Gets Lost – Then One Viral Photo Shows Her Family What Actually Happened in the Forest82-Year-Old With Dementia Disappears Into the Freezing Cold – One Sanitation Worker Doesn’t Hesitate to Carry Her Into His Truck

85-Year-Old Hops on All Kinds of TikTok Trends Proves Alzheimer's Disease Won't Slow Him Down
Motivation

85-Year-Old Hops on All Kinds of TikTok Trends Proves Alzheimer's Disease Won't Slow Him Down

85-year-old Charles Mallet was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six years ago, and his granddaughter Basia found a way to change his life for the better.The once-active former veteran and IBM engineer became disengaged from his usual activities. She refused to give up on him and found a unique way to keep Charles alert and active through the use of social media.The Natural Evolution Of A Heartwarming HobbyBasia began recording TikTok videos of her time with Charles, as they dressed up in various outfits, danced along to popular songs, and cooked up a storm in the kitchen. Their heartwarming moments brought Charles a sense of joy and purpose, and Basia could see sparks of her grandfather's personality returning as he began to feel loved, embraced, and fulfilled. Charles' personality shone through the lens and it was apparent that his condition improved as he participated in the activities Basia arranged for him. "Before I felt like, he just had a gaze through his eyes, but when I see him doing the TikToks, I see a whole new Charles," she said.Positive Changes Basia continued making videos with Charles, and this soon became a bonding experience that they both enjoyed and looked forward to. The pair did everything together and Charles was visibly happy through their social media journey. "I see him smiling. I see him dancing. I see him cooking things that he used to do before he got diagnosed with Alzheimer's," Basia said with joy. "And honestly, I feel like I've discovered something new for him to do and just for him to get better."They Went Viral - With A Celebrity Audience Charles' smile was contagious, and his happiness was apparent. Videos of the grandfather and granddaughter duo quickly began gaining traction online.Their adorable moments have caught the attention of nearly five million viewers and have resulted in reshares from famous artists Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.The viral videos have gone a long way to change the way people view Alzheimer's.Charles has regained his confidence and looks forward to starring in Basia's videos. It's given him an opportunity to be active, and he's focused and engaged while he enjoys time with his family.Fans and followers of Charles' TikTok page can see there's hope for loved ones with a similar diagnosis and have been inspired.This has been a very bonding experience for the Mallet family."She takes her time with him and if he makes a mistake or anything, they just start all over," said Maudra Mallet, Charles' wife of nearly 60 years. Finding Purpose And InspirationBasia Mallet is delighted to see how happy her grandfather is, and how enriched his life has become with this exciting new hobby. She's also thrilled by the response she has received online, and hopes that this raises awareness about Alzheimer's."I really want people to know that people that are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they're not just people that just sit there and don't really do anything," Basia said. "They can be active and engaged with you. It just depends on how you engage with them, and social media is the way that I engage with my grandfather who has Alzheimer's."You can enjoy the inspirational moments shared by the Mallet family by following @CharlesMallet.

Golfer Tattoos His Dads Advice on His Arm How Those Last Words Help Him Focus
Uplifting News

Golfer Tattoos His Dads Advice on His Arm How Those Last Words Help Him Focus

“For the longest time, I lived my life scared just seeing what he went through,” remembers golfer Sam Bennett. At age 23, he’s a rising star in the world of amateur golf. But he was holding back; he was scared of what might happen next.That’s because in June 2021, Sam’s father lost his battle with early onset Alzheimer’s. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s is characterized by gradual memory loss leading to the inability to accomplish daily tasks. The disease affects the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. In many ways, the devastating disease is still a mystery to scientists. The Alzheimer’s Association describes it as a disease that prevents parts of cells from doing their tasks properly. “Backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas,” they note. “As damage spreads, cells lose their ability to do their jobs and, eventually die, causing irreversible changes in the brain.”Connections between the brain fail, as do connections between the brain and body. The brain shrinks significantly, causing someone with Alzheimer’s Disease to lose many functions and abilities. Near the end of his long battle, Sam’s father forgot how to write.The Last Words of Advice One Man Gave His SonPhoto by PixabayMark Bennett was diagnosed at the early age of 43. The disease progressed slowly over a decade until his death at age 53. One day near the end, Sam and his mom were outside talking when they heard Mark wake up from a nap. They went into the house where, as Sam’s mother Stacey Bennett recalls, Mark abruptly said: “Don’t wait to do something.” Sam and Stacey didn’t know what to say. “It was just out of the blue,” Stacey said, a surprising moment of clarity. “It was a moment for all of us.” Sam wanted to remember it forever, so he asked his dad to write it down. But because Mark Bennett had forgotten how to write, Stacey sat down with her husband and showed him how. Letter by letter, with a shaky hand, Mark penned the message on paper. It took him about 20 minutes. When he was done, Sam took the paper to a local tattoo parlour and had the script tattooed to his arm.How One Man’s Advice Helped His Son Battle FearYears later, after his father’s death, those last words written by Mark Bennett are more important to the young athlete than ever. He’s the third-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, playing in Masters Tournaments, with a promising career ahead of him. And yet, as he recalls his childhood in Madisonville, Texas, he remembers he “never had a lesson.” For him the game was “strictly how fast you can get the ball in the hole.” His father’s words remind him that, despite those humble beginnings, he’s worthy. He can do it.“That just means don’t be scared of anything you do,” Sam said, referring to the tattooed words on his arm. “My dad didn’t care what I shot, just respected the game.”Sam’s father never got to see his rise to the height of his current golf game, but Sam’s adamant that his father is watching over him as he brings home trophy after trophy. “He’d think all this stuff is pretty dang cool,” he says with a smile.Sam’s coach at Texas A&M, Brian Kortan, agrees that Mark Bennett’s last written words have had a tremendous impact on Sam. “The maturation process really came down to him understanding that he could do this without his dad,” Kortan said, “that he still had more to give, more that he wanted to do for himself. The message on his forearm talks about get to doing it and to chase something that’s right in front of you. It relates perfectly to being intentional and not shying away from what you’re really trying to do.”How a Man’s Last Words Are Keeping His Memory AlivePhoto by cottonbro studioWhen his father died, Sam and his entire family were shaken to the core. It was difficult to move on. But having that last message, spoken in a moment of breathtaking clarity and painstakingly written down with a final effort, has been life-saving grace for the young man. Sam wanted to preserve it for the rest of his life, and having it tattooed on his arm means that he repeats the words in his head every day.It means that when he’s out on the green getting ready to swing that club, his father’s words wrap around him like a warm hug. From one of his father’s last moments of clarity, Sam gathers the strength to focus and to make his dad proud.

Woman Finds Out Some Big News - Visits Her Dad in the Hospital and Receives a Surprising Reaction
Uplifting News

Woman Finds Out Some Big News - Visits Her Dad in the Hospital and Receives a Surprising Reaction

Alzheimer’s is one of the hardest diseases to go through, especially for the loved ones of the person affected by the disease. While the sick person seems to be in peak physical condition, their mind is deteriorating, along with their memories. So, the person who once looked at you as if you were their whole world may begin to look at you as if you were a stranger. One young woman experienced this with her father, who started suffering from the devastating disease earlier than most. She chronicled her experiences with her once-devoted dad on TikTok. The Surprising News One Woman Gave Her FatherPhoto by Andrea PiacquadioOlivia Salza is a TikToker whose father is battling Alzheimer’s disease. Before his diagnosis, Olivia was a single mother who loved watching her daughter and her father bond. Just as he had been when she was a little girl, her father was the most loving, adventurous, and fun figure in her young daughter’s life. She was eternally grateful for his presence, and was thrilled when he walked her down the aisle after she finally met Nick, the man who would become her husband. Unfortunately, he was soon diagnosed with the disease and deteriorated quickly. To make matters worse for Olivia and her family, she and her new husband were struggling with infertility. They tried to conceive for more than three years, but had no luck. Finally, Nick and Olivia got what they had been hoping for for so long -- Olivia was expecting! She was over the moon but was worried she would not be able to tell the one person who mattered the most to her: her father.She decided she would pray for him to be having a lucid day, and went to the hospital to give him the big news. She captured the exchange on video.The Bittersweet Moment Between One Dad and His Daughter Olivia walked into the hospital room and asked a few preliminary questions to check if her father was lucid that day. Amazingly, he was, and he was in good spirits. He joked around with Olivia and Nick, and was excited when she told him she had news.She revealed that she was finally pregnant and that he would be a grandpa again. Her father immediately broke down into tears and gave Nick a meaningful look, congratulating him. He excitedly told him that he would get to experience “the cradle of that person,” the most wonderful feeling in the world. Olivia burst into tears saying “that’s what you’ve done for me my whole life.”While this moment between father and daughter is in some ways devastating, it is also beautiful. Alzheimer’s disease did not steal the moment from the family, they were still able to bask in the happy news together. While he is still deteriorating, grandpa got the meet his new grandson nine months later, and he was overcome with happiness then too.