Over 5 million Americans and millions of people around the world are affected by the Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, it doesn’t only affect the patients, it can also be very challenging and frustrating for their families and friends.
Ted McDermott’s and his family’s life drastically changed when he was diagnosed with the disease a few years ago. His memory and temper have been changing for the worse ever since, but his son Mac isn’t giving up on him just yet. He found something that brings his dad back to his old self even if for a moment only.
Ted has always been very passionate about music. When he was younger, he used to travel around the UK and sing at clubs or wherever else he could. But over time, marriage and children came, and then the age and his condition, so performing became harder and harder for him.
Even though his days of professional performances may be over, he hasn’t lost any of his love for singing. His son Mac explained:
“Dad was a singer all his life – he was a Butlin’s Redcoat and then traveled around singing in clubs around the country. He worked in a factory after he got married and still did the bit of singing on the side. His nickname is ‘The Songaminute Man’ – simply because of how many songs he knows.
In the last few years his memory has deteriorated a lot – often not recognizing family and with many aggressive episodes.”
These episodes can make it difficult to handle Ted, both health and emotion-wise. However, Mac doesn’t want to let his father’s spirit fade away, so he came up with a brilliant plan!
Whenever Mac notices that his father is back to his sensible self, he plays some of his favorite songs and starts humming them along the way. Ted then remembers the words and starts singing together with Mac.
These moments when everything seems to be as it once was are what keeps Mac going and gives him the strength to help his dad pull through this difficult situation.
“Now when we’ve got him singing again he’s back in the room. It’s these moments that we treasure. The plan is to share as much of Dad’s singing as we can and hopefully help raise money to fund the work of the Alzheimer’s Society – more specifically to go towards paying for a person at the end of the phone line to help other people like us.”
Mac and Ted have started recording their singing bouts in order to be able to share them with the world. They hope that what they are doing will help and inspire other people in the same situation to fight the challenges posed to them by the Alzheimer’s.
They also started a page called Just Giving which should help them raise funds for Ted to make his own album. They promised to donate 25 percent of the earnings to Alzheimer research programs!
Take a look at this lovely video of Ted and Mac singing in the car!
Life has its trials and can be very difficult sometimes, but what matters is that we have someone or something to lean on during tough times. Ted and Mac have each other and their music, but they are also trying to help many more who are affected by Alzheimer’s directly or indirectly.
Liked Video the moving video and help Ted and Mac on their journey of raising awareness about the Alzheimer’s!
