Thank you, Will. You have inspired me to write a letter to my extended family and my adult children about my mother who is going through Alzheimer's, like Bella. I have such fond memories of her former self, and her unwavering love and support to her four children. I pray that you and my father find solace in your love for your wives. 💙
Thank you for sharing your journey with your wife's Alzheimer's. Your honesty makes your essays valuable. I hope you have people in your life that you can lean on once in a while. Caretakers need care, too.
I was reading your article when my daughter walked in and I read it out loud to her. When I showed her your photo and Bella's her response was "I just want to hug her and tell it will be ok." She understands the confusion and fear having lived through two grandparents with this horrible disease and now seeing first hand the care-giving needed with my stepfather. Thank you for writing these articles and sharing the love, struggles and frustrations associated with Alzheimer's.
Thank you, Will, for your transparency, and for the information and support you extend in your columns. You do “educate” us, but more than that you model for us what authentic love is through your pain and patience, and your empathy and caring for Bella.
What Al B. said, and, the heartfelt words may seem inadequate to you at times but you have a gift for writing. You are making a difference, as Maya Angelou has said, being a rainbow in somebody's clouds.🌈
My mother in law had Alzheimer’s. It’s a horrid disease for both the afflicted and for their loved ones. My father-in-law did all he could, as you do, until her fighting strength was too much for him. When she didn’t remember who her husband of over 40 years was, and tried to fight him, it broke our hearts.
When you describe your emotions, we’re right there with you. Your words are so full of emotion, love and caring. I just lost my dad 3 weeks before his 100th birthday. The greatest of fathers, a proud WWll combat veteran who communicated with generals MacArthur and Eisenhower via Morse code on the USS Ancon on Omaha Beach in Normandy and then in the Philippines to complete the allies victories. He was, in my eyes, the greatest nonprofessional baseball pitcher, tennis player until he was 87, and superstar ice hockey goalie. To watch him deteriorate at 97, following pneumonia, come back, live through lonely Covid, and then watch his physical health diminish for 6 months after my mother died, broke my heart over and over again. I send virtual hugs to you each time you write of Bella. I walk with you through your heart wrenching adventure. You are an angel Will Doolittle.
I am so deeply touched by your stories. Your stories no doubt give support to many who face this, feeling alone, like no one really "gets" what they are going through. You inspire compassion and hopefully someone somewhere is reaching out to a caregiver and saying, "I'd like to come over and be with him/her for a while. Why don't you find something nice to do for that time?" Caregivers can't pour from an empty cup; they need breaks to refill.
I'm so glad you wrote about the real Bella who has been hidden inside of the Bella you deal with every hour of every day. A remarkable woman with an incredible history....in some ways this is the picture of every older person we see. We can't know what they were like before the aging started its progression. Bella became that "older" person while she was still truly young. You are giving us a remarkable and lengthy story of life as it happens, Will....thank you.
your words always touch my heart--love and honesty and sadness and loss and all that is out of our control. I loved hear about Bella's life, all that she did, all that she was, all that you remember. And I always think that some part of us does survive within, on some level. I think i mentioned the book "The majesty of your loving," where the author speaks of her husband's journey through Alzheimer's...her words, like your words, capture....
What a gift this column is. No better, fiercer, more candid, and exquisitely observed writing out there about the hands-on experience of living with a loved one with dementia. I do hope you plan to publish a collection of your essays. Many more people need to read them than are seeing it right now.
Bon courage, Will! You tell of your difficult journey with so much heart and so little bitterness — an inspiration for those of us who struggle to be there for our loved ones when the demands are unrelenting. I hope your community of friends, neighbors, even strangers is providing some support and comfort to you and other caregivers who might otherwise feel like they are carrying their burdens alone.
I will try to say prayers for you both as I can't imagine going through this on a daily basis & I am saying this to you both, although trying to realize that she is not aware of any of it, God bless you Both. My wife died almost 5 years ago and there is not a day that I don' miss her but I love FM music and that helps, otherwise the silence drives me crazy, so God bless the FM stations. & my Bose radio. Our children are so loving and caring & as I took myself out of driving after having driven 60 plus years & loving it, but I wouldn't have been able to live w/myself, God forgive me If I ever hurt or worse, anyone. They take me all over.
You must be a pillar of strength to be able to do what you are going through, God Bless you and Bella.
I can't say how much I look forward to your writing, I admire your strength & talent.
You are moving together in grace. Your writing is a testament to the power of love. ✌️🫶
Thank you, Will. You have inspired me to write a letter to my extended family and my adult children about my mother who is going through Alzheimer's, like Bella. I have such fond memories of her former self, and her unwavering love and support to her four children. I pray that you and my father find solace in your love for your wives. 💙
Thank you for sharing your journey with your wife's Alzheimer's. Your honesty makes your essays valuable. I hope you have people in your life that you can lean on once in a while. Caretakers need care, too.
Right you are!
Much love to your family Will. I know how difficult it is to be a caretaker...all those feelings.
Your love always shines through - above the other feelings you experience, which are all normal responses to what you're all going through.
I was reading your article when my daughter walked in and I read it out loud to her. When I showed her your photo and Bella's her response was "I just want to hug her and tell it will be ok." She understands the confusion and fear having lived through two grandparents with this horrible disease and now seeing first hand the care-giving needed with my stepfather. Thank you for writing these articles and sharing the love, struggles and frustrations associated with Alzheimer's.
Thank you, Will, for your transparency, and for the information and support you extend in your columns. You do “educate” us, but more than that you model for us what authentic love is through your pain and patience, and your empathy and caring for Bella.
What Al B. said, and, the heartfelt words may seem inadequate to you at times but you have a gift for writing. You are making a difference, as Maya Angelou has said, being a rainbow in somebody's clouds.🌈
So well said!
My mother in law had Alzheimer’s. It’s a horrid disease for both the afflicted and for their loved ones. My father-in-law did all he could, as you do, until her fighting strength was too much for him. When she didn’t remember who her husband of over 40 years was, and tried to fight him, it broke our hearts.
When you describe your emotions, we’re right there with you. Your words are so full of emotion, love and caring. I just lost my dad 3 weeks before his 100th birthday. The greatest of fathers, a proud WWll combat veteran who communicated with generals MacArthur and Eisenhower via Morse code on the USS Ancon on Omaha Beach in Normandy and then in the Philippines to complete the allies victories. He was, in my eyes, the greatest nonprofessional baseball pitcher, tennis player until he was 87, and superstar ice hockey goalie. To watch him deteriorate at 97, following pneumonia, come back, live through lonely Covid, and then watch his physical health diminish for 6 months after my mother died, broke my heart over and over again. I send virtual hugs to you each time you write of Bella. I walk with you through your heart wrenching adventure. You are an angel Will Doolittle.
I am so deeply touched by your stories. Your stories no doubt give support to many who face this, feeling alone, like no one really "gets" what they are going through. You inspire compassion and hopefully someone somewhere is reaching out to a caregiver and saying, "I'd like to come over and be with him/her for a while. Why don't you find something nice to do for that time?" Caregivers can't pour from an empty cup; they need breaks to refill.
I'm so glad you wrote about the real Bella who has been hidden inside of the Bella you deal with every hour of every day. A remarkable woman with an incredible history....in some ways this is the picture of every older person we see. We can't know what they were like before the aging started its progression. Bella became that "older" person while she was still truly young. You are giving us a remarkable and lengthy story of life as it happens, Will....thank you.
Will,
your words always touch my heart--love and honesty and sadness and loss and all that is out of our control. I loved hear about Bella's life, all that she did, all that she was, all that you remember. And I always think that some part of us does survive within, on some level. I think i mentioned the book "The majesty of your loving," where the author speaks of her husband's journey through Alzheimer's...her words, like your words, capture....
What a gift this column is. No better, fiercer, more candid, and exquisitely observed writing out there about the hands-on experience of living with a loved one with dementia. I do hope you plan to publish a collection of your essays. Many more people need to read them than are seeing it right now.
Bon courage, Will! You tell of your difficult journey with so much heart and so little bitterness — an inspiration for those of us who struggle to be there for our loved ones when the demands are unrelenting. I hope your community of friends, neighbors, even strangers is providing some support and comfort to you and other caregivers who might otherwise feel like they are carrying their burdens alone.
I will try to say prayers for you both as I can't imagine going through this on a daily basis & I am saying this to you both, although trying to realize that she is not aware of any of it, God bless you Both. My wife died almost 5 years ago and there is not a day that I don' miss her but I love FM music and that helps, otherwise the silence drives me crazy, so God bless the FM stations. & my Bose radio. Our children are so loving and caring & as I took myself out of driving after having driven 60 plus years & loving it, but I wouldn't have been able to live w/myself, God forgive me If I ever hurt or worse, anyone. They take me all over.
You must be a pillar of strength to be able to do what you are going through, God Bless you and Bella.
I can't say how much I look forward to your writing, I admire your strength & talent.
We're grieving with you Will. Your words inspire us to value and enjoy our loved ones at every moment.
Thank you for sharing Bella’s and your journey. It is humbling.