There's something about having a parent with Alzheimer's that is like the dark side of dog ownership. We are all amused by the dogs that greet you just as enthusiastically when you come home from a 8 hour day, as they do for the triumphant return from taking the garbage to the curb.
My mom has no re-collection of me ever visiting. Every time I visit her, she greets me with an acidic comment about children that only come home once per year. I decided to test it today. Ben and I came for our Sunday morning visit, we left and walked around the park next to the facility - it maybe took 20 minutes. Ben and I then turned around and went to see my mom. She looked up in shock and said "Well, isn't it nice to see you, do you still live in the same house?
Sometimes it's unbearably sad, sometimes just frustrating.
Taking Ben is helping not just me, but other people in the same boat. Ben sat on a man's lap today and he petted Ben and smiled. Of course this does not mean that the man will recover, but only that his wife was able to glimpse the man he used to be, it made her happy for a moment.
I'm so glad you're taking Ben with you, and sharing his spirit with others who can benefit.
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