Ella Vick

“The acute pain of losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s is not something I can quite put into words. It is impossible to grapple with the juxtaposition of seeing your person in front of your eyes, being able to hold their hands, all while knowing that who they are is no longer there. I made many of the best memories in my life with my Papa. He was incredibly insightful and a constant and dependable source of support - always there to offer a piece of advice that made everything suddenly make sense. My Papa was loving, funny, generous and loyal.

When I share that I have a loved one fighting Alzheimer’s, people usually ask me if my Papa still knows who I am. The answer is no. Yet he smiles and looks at me with love in his eyes whenever he sees me. He holds my hand peacefully and we simply exist. I honestly believe that the only thing he remembers to be true is love. I can feel his love for me when he is silent and it is absolute.”