A woman with Alzheimer’s disease gets help from her daughter to remember the important things in life.
In a viral TikTok video shared by creator Molly Bell Deaton in January, her mother, 65-year-old Patti Bell — who has stage six Alzheimer’s — reacts happily after her daughter tells her how long she’s been married to her husband.
“I think you’ve all been married 40 years,” Bell told her mother in the sweet clip.
“Really?” she answered excitedly. “Oh my god we did. That’s great. I love it.”
In the caption, Bell Deaton shared that the sweet moment happened while she and her mother were waiting for her father in the lobby of the neurologist’s office.
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“Trying to engage her in conversation,” she wrote. “He always turns to dad. He’s always looking for him. Their love is so special. 🥰.”
Commenters on the video — which has garnered more than 2.1 million likes and more than 16.4 million views on TikTok since it was posted two months ago — shared their support and kind words for Bell Deaton and opened up about their own experiences living with loved ones with Alzheimer’s.
“Her sweet, sweet soul shines through the dementia ☀️,” wrote one TikTok user.
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“My dad has dementia and sulks if my mom isn’t around. They’ve been married for 50 years. 😥,” another user commented.
“She’s a completely different person when her dad isn’t around. He’s definitely her comfort and security 💔,” Bell replied in the comment.
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According to the Fisher Center for the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, there are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease during which dementia and other symptoms become more pronounced. The sixth stage of the disease, which Bell has, consists of severe cognitive decline and moderately severe dementia.
According to the research center, there are different sub-stages within the sixth stage, and patients begin to lose the ability to perform “basic activities of daily living”, such as choosing clothes and bathing, and become unable to remember information about day-to-day life, such as the time or where they live.
Bell Deaton has been candid online about her mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease. In another viral TikTok clip, she shared her mother’s reaction when she first met her newborn grandson, and immediately wanted to hold him and rock him to sleep.
“Mom met her grandson for the first time today,” Bell Deaton wrote in the comments. “She was very confused while driving, but ‘Mamaw mode’ kicked in when she saw him. Moments to cherish!”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education