It’s her Dan. Her precious Dan. That’s what Valerie called out the moment she recognized her husband.
That’s not always the case when he comes to visit.
You see, Valerie has Alzheimer’s. She was diagnosed over 12 years ago and currently lives in the memory care facility in Shelton Washington.
“Alzheimer’s disease does not change a person’s need for love and affection, but it changes many aspects of a relationship. You may lose the companionship of someone who has been close and important to you. You’ll need to find different ways to express your feelings,” AlzheimerSociety writes.
I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for Dan on the days when the love of his life didn’t recognize him.
But this time she remembered her husband, it was extra special.
That’s because it was Dan and Valerie’s 66th wedding anniversary.
“When I take Dan to see and visit we never know if she will remember him,” Dan’s caretaker Lisa wrote in a video description for Viral Hog. “Today on their special day of 66 years of marriage she did. It was beautiful. I, Lisa, just thought to video so Dan could watch it afterward when he misses his wife. Which is every day. The ending was wonderful.”
The video begins with Dan saying a few inaudible words to Valerie who just stares back at her beloved.
Her jaw drops as soon as her mind recognizes her husband.
“Oh. Oh my God. My precious Dan. That’s my Daaaann,” she says in disbelief.
“See I told you she would remember you, honey,” a caretaker in the video says to Dan who is sitting in a wheelchair.
She then wheels him closer to his wife.
“Yes, it is honey. That’s your Dan,” says a caretaker says to Valerie.
Valerie then looks at her caretaker like she can’t believe her eyes.
“My Daaaann,” she calls out.
“Your Dan’s here hun,” the caretaker says nudging Valerie a bit closer.
Valeria looks so grateful to the caretaker for bringing her Dan that she goes to give her a kiss on the cheek.
How that caretaker lady wasn’t in complete and total tears is beyond me.
That video is both the most heartwarming and heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen. The video has been viewed more than 100,000 times with people gushing over this.
“Man, this got me crying. This is too sweet. A life spent together and still have that connection even through this degrading disease,” one commenter writes.
“It’s hard to watch this and justify my pursuit of a notorious career as the highest possible virtue. It would really suck to grow old alone!” said another.
Many people also shared their own experiences with the disease.
“That’s so heartbreaking. At the same time, both of my parents had Alzheimer’s. My father declined so quickly he never forgot who I or my sister were and neither did my mother,” said another.
Watch this bittersweet moment in the video below.
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