Hear What this Daughter did to Ensure Her Mom with Alzheimer’s Could be Part of Her Wedding
To many brides, the joy of their wedding day is best shared with their mother. Julia Napolitano had always dreamed of a special wedding day with her mother, Linda, by her side. When Linda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s while Julia was in her twenties, the possibility of this seemed painfully less likely. An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom
An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom
But love has a way of overcoming things that would otherwise seem insurmountable.
Linda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 60, six years before Julia would walk down the aisle. By the time of the wedding, Linda’s Alzheimer’s had progressed to the point where she could no longer speak or recognize her daughter or husband. The disease meant that Julia was not able to share all of the memorable pre-wedding experiences with her mother – things like planning, dress shopping and selecting invitations.
Despite the challenges brought on by Alzheimer’s, Julia realized she had to continue to find ways to make both her life and her mother’s life meaningful. “She may not be the same person in every sense, but she is alive,” she said. “And we need to share that life, even if it’s only for a short amount of time.”
It wasn’t a possibility for Linda to leave the Silverado Memory Care Community that had been her home for the past several years, but it was possible for the wedding to come to her. The plan to incorporate the community into Julia’s wedding was enthusiastically accepted by Silverado. Because the Silverado philosophy is rooted in dignity and cherishing the human spirit, a joyous event like a wedding would be sure to raise the spirits of family, friends, residents and even associates.
The actual wedding ceremony was held at a local church, where guests were handed programs that explained Linda’s condition and how she lived in a memory care community. An invitation to a brief pre-reception at Silverado was included for anyone interested in joining before the official reception. Almost all of the wedding guests jumped at the chance to be a part of the bride’s special moment with her mother.
“We really didn’t want to make it just for my mom, but for the entire home as well,” said Julia. “That’s her home now. So all the residents and staff were part of the festivities, and everyone got dressed up.”
She continued “To be able to have a home so willing to host and coordinate such an event… well, that was pretty incredible. They embraced it as though they were her family, too. They had someone do her hair and nails and got us a cake that matched the colors of our wedding.” An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom
Though there was a second reception later in the day, the newlyweds did their first dance as husband and wife at Silverado surrounded by couples, staff and residents dancing in wheelchairs. The wedding cake cutting was also done at the community. An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom
In the weeks following the wedding, Linda’s condition stayed relatively stable. “She’s been in such good spirits since then. It’s actually been amazing,” said Napolitano. “Clearly, we need to get married more often.”
Photos taken by Gravidee Design
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An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom
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An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom
An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom An unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s MomAn unforgettable wedding with Alzheimer’s Mom