Love in a Time of Dementia
Louis M. Profeta MD
![Louis M. Profeta MD]()
Louis M. Profeta MD
Just an Emergency Physician, author, public speaker, but mostly a father and a husband / LinkedIn Top Voice
He’s eighty, perhaps eighty five. He walks arm-in-arm with his wife, supporting her as they enter the emergency room. Her mind has vanished from Alzheimer's and she slowly shuffles, looking down at the floor.
She doesn't know him anymore.
But you can tell she is clean, well fed, her hair is combed and her nails painted. She clings to him and he to her.
He carries her purse in his free hand.
Dr. Louis M. Profeta is an emergency physician practicing in Indianapolis. He is one of LinkedIn's Top Voices and the author of the critically acclaimed book, The Patient in Room Nine Says He's God. Feedback at [email protected] is welcomed.
Hospice Director, Community Health Network
7 年Thank you for seeing and noticing great love as a busy doctor. Thank you blessing all of us by so beautifully writing and sharing.
Registered Midwife/ Registered Nurse at The Women's and Children's Hospital
7 年My 85 year old mother had a Brain stem stroke 3 years ago and this has left her confined to a wheelchair and bed. Sometimes she is more lucid than others . We were told at her bedside by a very uncaring Doctor that "She wouldn't last a week, and to expect her to die". I was appalled by his lack of caring and poor bedside manner. I told him that we loved our mother and he should not be so negative in front of a patient. We all love her dearly and she survived although her quality of life is greatly impacted by her loss of mobility and impaired memory. Some days however , she remembers so much and jokes around. She even tries to play Claire De lune again as she used to on the Grand Piano. Music and interactions and hugs from loved ones keeps their spirit and soul alive. Love shines from her eyes still at times and I will always feel that she remembers so much more than any of us know.
Teacher / Mentor
7 年My 94 year old Dad is slipping away slowly, surely, inevitably from Dementia. Some days he doesn't say much more than 5 words. He also has Parkinsons and as a proud man is crushed that he can't speak as well or as passionately as he once did. But my family and I love him to death. I read an article the other day that mentioned an experimental breakthrough that may be able to restore memories by "re-activating" brain cells with a specific laser technology. If only.......
A beautiful story. Real love meets people where they are. Carry the purse.