On my way home today, I passed Gary, the 5oish guy from my old neighborhood that had Alzheimer's. He was walking alone along the side of a main road. Without Milo. (if you don't know the story, click on Gary first, then Milo.)
His head was down. He was walking so slowly. Barely putting one foot in front of the other. On the right path to his house. Just as I used to see him every day walking Milo. Except just a few months ago, his head was up and his step was light.
I didn't stop. I thought about it. But would he remember me? Would it frustrate him that he didn't? Would I be stopping for him or for me?
I wanted to do something for him. I just didn't know what.
If I could do anything for him...
I'd bring back his best friend. The one he counted on to get him home. The friend that didn't care if he remembered everything. The one friend he always counted on.
It just makes me so sad.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
And My Heart Flopped onto the Floorboard
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42 comments:
I can't thank you for bringing that very sad story back to life.
This post makes me very sad for Gary...and you, for having to see him so sad.
That is so sad. Poor Gary.
:( Poor fella... I'm sorry... for you both.
Oh boy! Now I'm sad. I'd say that Gary should get a new pet but would that be wise. Sorry to hear about Milo and Gary's problems. You're a great lady for wanting to help them.
So sorry to hear he is so sad. Keep your chin up.
that is just plain sad.....
Alzheimer's is a mean, mean disease. It just rips people of themselves.
It's hard to know what to do.
Oh my dear - hugs go out to you.
To life your spirits (hopefully) I have bestowed an award upon you and your blog... come and peek.
so sad... i spend every saturday taking the day with my grandfather, and every few months i see him slipping a little bit. it makes me sad.
man.....
i came by to say hello, and thank you for the comment you left.
That was a very thoughtful post. So sad.
That is sad. His Son should look into getting him a companion dog. One already trained.
His Son should reconsider. If the pooch can be trained to always come home, wouldn't that be better than his Father getting lost?
Thank you for visiting my blog with my yard photos..This is such a sad story. My husband fences and there is a guy in his 40's with it and it is horrible. For some reason he can remember how to fence, but not how to gear up so my husband gets him dressed in this stuff. But he refers to his wife as "Mom" and his son also fences sometimes and he doesn't remember that he has a son. I have MS and I worry about losing my mental abilities. Damn these illnesses...
Thanks for posting about the mammograms. My best friend just had a benign tumor removed and this past month of dealing with it was stressful...Gee, I sound like Debbie Downer, but I am not really..
Oh, that is soooo sad. Poor Gary. Alzheimer's truly is a cruel, cruel bitch. I'm in agreement with what some other's have already said, maybe Gary needs a companion dog...one that can help him find his way when he doesn't remember.
Thank you very much for ripping out that heart string....
Oh so sad....I suppose this is one of my own biggest fears, to be stricken with such a disease. It's not at all fair, is it?
Take care!
BJ
Just popping in via Elizabeth's blog.
What a sad, sad story.
There's a man near me with a similar story. His family decided not to get another dog but they did call a group who come out with therapy dogs. It has cheered him immensely and he seems to prefer that the dogs go home.
He is back in the hospital right now, makes me sad, so I don't know when I'll see his family to find out the name of the group.
Maybe ask your local Humane Society? Just putting it out there.
You're a good soul Lady.
My dear warmhearted friend. Bless you.
I had a simular experience with a friend who had Alz. Somedays she would know me and somedays not. I learned a trick. I just introduced myself each time I saw her. She'd either know me and think I was being silly or she didn't know me and would introduce herself. It helped.
I'm sitting at work and tears are welling up in my eyes after reading this story. My dogs are better people than I could ever hope to be, and I dread the day I have to help them on their way out. A truer love never existed than that of a dog and his masters.
This post made me cry. I will have to go back and read about Milo.
Btw, you have a wonderful heart. ;)
Now I'm a pile of goo. I cried when I first read their story... and I meant to ask you if you had any news...
This just isn't a good day for me.
Bless your heart for being so kind to them.
That is just tragic. Milo was surely an anchor for him.
oh god...that breaks my heart....that is so sad.
Heartbreaking.
That teared me up too.
((((hugs))))
Very touching. :((
Sad to hear about Gary. I KNOW that you would bring that dog back if you could. Something else I KNOW and I think everyone else here does too. You WILL do something for this man. You may not know what yet, but I don't believe that you can keep yourself from it. I don't think you're able to help yourself.
You are just that wonderful.
FMD
That is sad. Don't you wish that sometimes you didn't care so much about people.
I think abut it.
I mean, it would make life so much simpler...But then again if we all did it, there would be no passion in life.
I guess I'll take the occasional sad, and enjoy the passion. Cheers!!
Soon, Milo won't even be a memory for him- that's really sad..
I hate that feeling-- that feeling of seeing someone you know and understand and not being able to DO anything to FIX IT for them.
Though I suppose you COULD bake him a cake, maybe...
Oh man, the poor guy.
Life is so tough... :(
My heart was heavy reading those posts. Knowing that you wish only the best for him is wonderful.
Sorry. :(
Rll: sweetie, it's painful to make that decision too. Our dog was like that...and my girl made that decision. I hurt me to see her cry. She sobbed as she went into my arms...holding her I cried too...for the loss of him and for the pain I felt and the pain I saw in her was great.
It's sad...he is missings the part of himself that was Milo.
Ciao babe. xoxoxox
:( How sad! I don't know what I'll do without my animals. (Sorry this is the first comment I've ever made on your blog. :() Sadness aside for a second, I love your moniker. :)
Heart-wrenching. How alone he must feel to be without one of the few things he could actually remember from day to day.
So sad. Alzheimers is so cruel. I'm so sorry he is without his beautiful companion. :(
It's so hard to watch someone with this terrible afflication slowly fade away. I read your previous posts regarding Gary and Milo. Very touching and sad.
This broke my heart.
*sigh*
poor poor gary. i wish i could just hug him.
i hate Alzheimers. my grandfather had it.
Awww - your intentions speak so much of you. You have a big heart! It's funny how I have those same type of talks with myself, feel sad then pray for that person. I will pray for Gary.
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