Father with Alzheimer's says 'I love you' to his son for the first time in years and it's beautiful

Loved ones of people with Alzheimer's disease often face significant emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Providing care for a family member with Alzheimer's can be a full-time job, requiring significant time and energy. Family members may experience feelings of frustration, grief, and loss as they witness their loved one's decline. There are often some heartbreaking moments that one has to go through while caring for an elderly person with this illness. However, there are some heartwarming instances in between that make it all worthwhile. A staunch example of this is a video posted by @davidagreg on Twitter.

The video shows David going in and greeting his father who has Alzheimer's disease. He asks his father, Wayne, if he can hug him and he agrees. Moreover, after almost four years, Wayne said "I love you" to his son which made David extremely emotional and overwhelmed. He wrote alongside the video, "He said the words 'I love you' to me for the first time in four years. These little bursts of clarity are the greatest gifts." The video was also posted by @goodnewscorrespondent on Twitter and has gathered more than 40.8k views in just a couple of days. David told the outlet, "My dad Wayne has been almost non-verbal for a little while now, but thanks to some great caretakers, he’s been thriving."

Twitter users were in awe of this precious moment and several of them commented about the importance of care for people with Alzheimer's. One person @smiledani said, "I’m so happy you had this moment. It’s a gift you’ll always have," while @andrewmbiernat said, "Aww man happy you had this beautiful moment David. Sending you and your family all my love."

In another similarly heartwarming story, Ron Robert was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease seven years ago, but he chose to undertake a program to engage his mind. Recently, he completed his degree at the university. He told CTV News, "I was always taught early in life that the brain is like the most powerful instrument we have in our body." After enrolling in a three-year Bachelor of Arts program at King's University College in London, Ontario, he received tremendous encouragement from his professors and fellow students during his graduation ceremony in October. He recounted that while receiving his diploma, the students stood up and cheered, and he had to fight back tears, feeling overwhelmed with emotion at the heartwarming moment. "It was an extraordinary feeling," he said.

In a conversation with CTV News prior to the ceremony, he mentioned that receiving his diploma would instill hope in many people that it is possible to lead a fulfilling life despite the illness. He acknowledged that there would come a time when he would not be able to do so, but until then, he would continue to enjoy a complete life. Despite his condition worsening during his time at the university, Robert believes that the mental stimulation he experienced might have helped to delay the deterioration. "Although my short-term memory is terrible, my long-term memory has not been affected much, and in fact, it has improved," he stated.