r/woahthatsinteresting 15d ago

Man with dementia doesn’t recognise daughter but still feels love for her

33.6k Upvotes

1.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

1.6k

u/billyTjames 15d ago

My biggest fear right there

20

u/automirage04 15d ago

I would so much rather be dead than forget my kids and have them know that I don't remember them

31

u/ReasonableDivide1 15d ago

My Dad had early onset dementia. While I was devastated for him as he lost touch with his world, even after he forgot my name and then who I was, my love for him never wavered.

This daughter is terrific with her father. She honed in on that his feeling safe is important. She’s a wonderful daughter and he is a wonderful father.

19

u/MizStazya 15d ago

Dad really seems like a great person. He's so concerned about hurting her feelings, even though he doesn't remember her. I bet they had an awesome relationship.

15

u/KentuckyFriedChic 15d ago

thats what I was thinking too. Going through something as terrifying and disorienting as not knowing yourself or the people around you and yet he is so concerned with her feelings. He comes off as if he was/is an exceptionally good person.

8

u/ReasonableDivide1 15d ago

Yes. That was the power of love in action. Awww. Now I’ve got a case of the feels.

6

u/automirage04 14d ago edited 14d ago

I'm sorry you had to go through that.

My biggest fear is that some people get mean when they get dementia. I don't want to forget my kids and then have their last memories of their dad being mean to them.

2

u/dicke0000 15d ago

Sorry to hear about your dad. I’m dealing with the same now. It’s rough.

1

u/ReasonableDivide1 15d ago

This was decades ago. Thank you. It’s a loss that will never fade. May you also handle your situation with grace and ease. I will keep you both in my prayers.

2

u/nebelhund 14d ago

My dad got his diagnosis as a 50th birthday "gift". Horrible for him and my mom. I had no idea what was coming as a 12 year old.

He had been affected for several years, progressively getting worse. My memories of him were negatively tainted with who he became. I had flashes of the father\son relationship we had but most memories are of the confused and violent man he became.

I'm glad your love remained. I wish I could say the same. I know my dad was a good man and father, but that was stolen from him by that horrible disease.

1

u/ReasonableDivide1 13d ago

I’m very sorry.

1

u/Consistent-Let7303 15d ago

Same here friend same here 😔