Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment

BigHairedAristocrat · 12-31-2012, 01:58 AM

A few years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a disease called dementia with Lewy bodies. He's weak, frail, disoriented, thinks my mom is his nurse, and doesn't know who I am most of the time. It's horrible to watch the most important person in your life wither away in front of you by a disease no one understands. I've been through a lot in my life. I've made mistakes. My dad always encouraged, forgave, and loved me.

My dad is usually completely unaware if what's going on after 8pm. He was alert and lucid all night. He stayed awake and was alert. We hollered and cheered the entire game. This has not happened in years. Years.

Ive broken down in tears several times trying to write this. At the end of the game, my dad, in a moment of complete clarity and normalcy, remembered a time years ago when we traveled from Raleigh North Carolina to FedEx field to watch a redskins game. He told me it was one of his favorite memories and that he treasured it. He can't remember who I am most of the time, but after this victory, he remembered that. He remembered me, and a special trip we took together. I will treasure tonight forever. Not because the skins won, but because, for a brief moment, I had my father back. I might not not ever have him "back" again. I just wanted to say thank you, redskins. You gave me a moment with my father I may never get again. My father knows who I am. And he loves me. Thank you.

MTK · 12-31-2012, 02:05 AM

Awesome story BHA.

It's great that you built some lasting memories tonight with your Dad.

My Dad passed back in October, and I feel he's been watching over me since then, and I like to think he's been pulling some strings for the Skins these last 7 games.

BigHairedAristocrat · 12-31-2012, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Awesome story BHA.

It's great that you built some lasting memories tonight with your Dad.

My Dad passed back in October, and I feel he's been watching over me since then, and I like to think he's been pulling some strings for the Skins these last 7 games.

I'm sorry Matty. I can't fathom life without my father, even in his current state. I can't imagine the pain you've gone though. I don't know what your beliefs are, but I hope with all my heart you see him again.

Hail to the redskins!

CooleyAsCanBe · 12-31-2012, 02:31 AM

Wow, that's wonderful, BHA.

I've lost a few family members to alzheimers and those late moments of clarity are times I treasure. When my second child was a month old we took her to visit my grandmother who was bed-ridden with Alzheimers and had changed from her loving, quiet self to an angry, confused person. For the hour we visited, she held my son, laughed with us, recalled memories from when my dad was a baby, and we all shed some tears together. She passed away a week later. I always treasure that visit.

I let my seven year-old boy stay up late with me to watch the game tonight, so your story is touching for me as a father, also. Thanks for sharing.

diehardskin2982 · 12-31-2012, 02:45 AM

That is awesome BHA! I hope the game next week has positive results for you and your dad as well.

mbedner3420 · 12-31-2012, 02:48 AM

That's a great story. All the best to you and your dad.

Bubba305-ST21- · 12-31-2012, 02:53 AM

Awesome awesome story man, I hope you and your pops enjoyed the victory as much as me. I am acutally from and live in Raleigh too, right in Cary. Hail!

skinsfaninok · 12-31-2012, 02:55 AM

Great story man. I watched with a father figure that's dear to me, my father in law and he's a diehard cowboys fan but he's always been there for me ever since moving to Oklahoma. But I wish u and your dad the best and httr!!

punch it in · 12-31-2012, 02:57 AM

Much love BHA.

53Fan · 12-31-2012, 04:53 AM

That is awesome BHA. My mom had alzheimers for years and it was painful to watch because I love her so much. She passed in April of 2010. Right after that my dad was diagnosed with dementia. It wasn't really a surprise...I had taken him to the hospital about a year before because of really strange behavior but he had some other problems and was under a lot of stress because of my mom and they pretty much chalked it up to that. Anyway...he passed away 2 months after my mom because he lost the will to live. One thing we never got tired of talking about was the Redskins. And my mom? Those rare moments when she did have some clarity made me feel like I had my mom back and were very precious to me because in a way I had lost her long ago. I know how it must have made you feel to experience that with your dad and I'm very happy for you.....and I do believe I'll see my parents again one day. They just got to go to where I want to go before I do. Thanks for sharing that man. I'm glad you and your dad got to have that time together.

Swarley · 12-31-2012, 05:52 AM

Much love and respect for sharing that with us man. You're all giving me goosebumps.

That Guy · 12-31-2012, 05:55 AM

i'm happy you got one more night with your dad. i can only imagine how hard that must be.

NYCskinfan82 · 12-31-2012, 06:03 AM

It's amazing how sports can bring people together you never realise it until you hear stories like this.

Hog1 · 12-31-2012, 07:58 AM

What a great thing.....small moments.
Something you will remember and tell again and again for the rest of your life. Interesting how in the grand scheme of life an otherwise.....silly game can have.....HUGE meaning.
Good luck to you and your family BHA......

GoSkins! · 12-31-2012, 08:28 AM

What a great night. So happy for you both!

12-31-2012, 01:58 AM	#1
BigHairedAristocrat Playmaker Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 4,712	Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment A few years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a disease called dementia with Lewy bodies. He's weak, frail, disoriented, thinks my mom is his nurse, and doesn't know who I am most of the time. It's horrible to watch the most important person in your life wither away in front of you by a disease no one understands. I've been through a lot in my life. I've made mistakes. My dad always encouraged, forgave, and loved me. My dad is usually completely unaware if what's going on after 8pm. He was alert and lucid all night. He stayed awake and was alert. We hollered and cheered the entire game. This has not happened in years. Years. Ive broken down in tears several times trying to write this. At the end of the game, my dad, in a moment of complete clarity and normalcy, remembered a time years ago when we traveled from Raleigh North Carolina to FedEx field to watch a redskins game. He told me it was one of his favorite memories and that he treasured it. He can't remember who I am most of the time, but after this victory, he remembered that. He remembered me, and a special trip we took together. I will treasure tonight forever. Not because the skins won, but because, for a brief moment, I had my father back. I might not not ever have him "back" again. I just wanted to say thank you, redskins. You gave me a moment with my father I may never get again. My father knows who I am. And he loves me. Thank you. __________________ Dolphins get good press for saving drowning humans.But we only hear about the swimmers theyve pushed ashore.You know who we havent heard from: all the people theyve pushed out to sea.Dolphins dont know what theyre doing-they just like pushing things.

12-31-2012, 02:05 AM	#2
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,608	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment Awesome story BHA. It's great that you built some lasting memories tonight with your Dad. My Dad passed back in October, and I feel he's been watching over me since then, and I like to think he's been pulling some strings for the Skins these last 7 games. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

12-31-2012, 02:31 AM	#4
CooleyAsCanBe Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fairfax, VA Age: 48 Posts: 421	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment Wow, that's wonderful, BHA. I've lost a few family members to alzheimers and those late moments of clarity are times I treasure. When my second child was a month old we took her to visit my grandmother who was bed-ridden with Alzheimers and had changed from her loving, quiet self to an angry, confused person. For the hour we visited, she held my son, laughed with us, recalled memories from when my dad was a baby, and we all shed some tears together. She passed away a week later. I always treasure that visit. I let my seven year-old boy stay up late with me to watch the game tonight, so your story is touching for me as a father, also. Thanks for sharing. __________________ The TRUE QB Challenge Champion

12-31-2012, 02:45 AM	#5
diehardskin2982 Another Year, another mess. Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,581	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment That is awesome BHA! I hope the game next week has positive results for you and your dad as well. __________________ That got ugly fast

12-31-2012, 02:48 AM	#6
mbedner3420 The Starter Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,900	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment That's a great story. All the best to you and your dad.

12-31-2012, 02:53 AM	#7
Bubba305-ST21- Impact Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 683	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment Awesome awesome story man, I hope you and your pops enjoyed the victory as much as me. I am acutally from and live in Raleigh too, right in Cary. Hail! __________________ never another.....R.I.P. Sean T #21

12-31-2012, 02:55 AM	#8
skinsfaninok Warpath Hall of Fame Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UNITED STATES Age: 38 Posts: 36,161	Great story man. I watched with a father figure that's dear to me, my father in law and he's a diehard cowboys fan but he's always been there for me ever since moving to Oklahoma. But I wish u and your dad the best and httr!! __________________ “Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” ― Nick Saban

12-31-2012, 02:57 AM	#9
punch it in From a Land Down Under Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: toms river, nj Age: 53 Posts: 23,779	Much love BHA.

12-31-2012, 04:53 AM	#10
53Fan Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Posts: 7,570	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment That is awesome BHA. My mom had alzheimers for years and it was painful to watch because I love her so much. She passed in April of 2010. Right after that my dad was diagnosed with dementia. It wasn't really a surprise...I had taken him to the hospital about a year before because of really strange behavior but he had some other problems and was under a lot of stress because of my mom and they pretty much chalked it up to that. Anyway...he passed away 2 months after my mom because he lost the will to live. One thing we never got tired of talking about was the Redskins. And my mom? Those rare moments when she did have some clarity made me feel like I had my mom back and were very precious to me because in a way I had lost her long ago. I know how it must have made you feel to experience that with your dad and I'm very happy for you.....and I do believe I'll see my parents again one day. They just got to go to where I want to go before I do. Thanks for sharing that man. I'm glad you and your dad got to have that time together. __________________ Defense wins championships. Bring it!

12-31-2012, 05:52 AM	#11
Swarley The Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 36 Posts: 1,092	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment Much love and respect for sharing that with us man. You're all giving me goosebumps. __________________ doing it all in the spirit of the salary cap!

12-31-2012, 05:55 AM	#12
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: VA Age: 42 Posts: 17,553	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment i'm happy you got one more night with your dad. i can only imagine how hard that must be.

12-31-2012, 06:03 AM	#13
NYCskinfan82 Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Queens, NYC Age: 55 Posts: 3,803	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment It's amazing how sports can bring people together you never realise it until you hear stories like this.

12-31-2012, 07:58 AM	#14
Hog1 Quietly Dominating the East Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 10,675	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment What a great thing.....small moments. Something you will remember and tell again and again for the rest of your life. Interesting how in the grand scheme of life an otherwise.....silly game can have.....HUGE meaning. Good luck to you and your family BHA...... __________________ Goodbye Sean..........Vaya Con Dios thankyou Joe....... *“God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.” – Joe Gibbs*

12-31-2012, 08:28 AM	#15
GoSkins! The Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorktown, Va Age: 55 Posts: 1,587	Re: Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment What a great night. So happy for you both! __________________ Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. A. Einstien

Thank you for giving me my father back for a brief moment

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