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You May Have Had a Conversation Like This If You Love Someone With Alzheimer's

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People living with Alzheimer’s disease may not always remember their loved ones’ names, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t feel the love you share. If you’ve come to this realization about your own friend or family member with Alzheimer’s, you may relate to one woman’s sweet moment with her grandmother.

In a now-viral tweet posted Jan. 18, Lauren Eaton described a conversation she had with her grandmother, Gloria, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease four years ago. She told her grandmother it was nice seeing her, to which her grandmother replied, “It was nice remembering you.” Eaton was confused for a moment since her grandmother usually doesn’t seem to know who she is.

But then Gloria clarified, “I don’t remember your name, but I remember that I love you.”

Eaton went on to share a video and photos of herself and her grandmother and sharing how special the moment was, considering the challenges she has remembering her family members and details of her life.

Eaton told The Mighty that when her grandma, who she calls Mahma, told her she remembered her, she almost started crying on the spot.

“For her to have a glimpse of this moment of clarity meant everything to me,” Eaton said.

In the many responses to Eaton’s tweet, people shared how they had similar experiences with their own relatives.

Eaton said she thought the moment she had with her grandmother was a great reminder for families struggling with Alzheimer’s of what one can remember, even when the details are gone.

“Our loved ones hold onto how you make them feel and how they feel about you. This moment meant more than her remembering my name or how I’m related to her,” she said. “It meant that she remembered our relationship, and that’s something that I will always treasure.”

Originally published: January 26, 2019
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