A message from Fred DeVries

On nearly every visit with my mother, she thinks I’m her cousin from the Netherlands. Her face lights up when I come to her door.

As we catch up, she often asks, “How your parents are doing?”

“You’re my mom,” I say, “and I think you’re doing fine.”

“I am…?!” she laughs, partly questioning the fact and partly sighing in relief.

My 86-year-old mom has dementia, and lives in a memory-care home.

Her memory has faded beyond a time where I am her son. To her, when I visit, I am anyone and everyone—and sometimes no one—at the same time. I miss being someone to her.

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We love our mom and Oma. Her sweet spirit still shines through even though her mind dims. That is why we are participating in the Walk for Alzheimer's. We want to honour her life of compassion by supporting others with caring resources and services supplied by the Alzheimer's Society. 

Please donate towards this cause. Help us raise $600 by May 25 and give other families the support they need and want.