If you don’t believe there’s forever in love, this story might just change your mind.
A man who has Alzheimer’s disease forgot that he was already married. And like straight from a romantic novel, he fell in love again with his wife, and they decided to get married for the second time!
Image by Oh Hello Alzheimer’s via Facebook
Lisa and Peter Marshall were a happily married couple with five grown children and even lovable dogs. In 2018, Peter was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 53. Since then, Lisa retired from her sales career to care for her ailing husband.
And like a thief in the night, Alzheimer’s started stealing Peter’s memory until he couldn’t remember their home, family, and even marriage.
“It’s heartbreaking. We’ve made new memories, but it hurts because I always want to say, ‘Remember that one time?’ I want to reminisce with him, but Peter can’t remember anything now, much less what happened 20 years ago,” Lisa shared on CNN.
But Lisa stayed true to their wedding vows of “in sickness and health” and continued to care for her husband. The best part happened when the couple of 12 years found themselves at the altar again to get married for the second time around!
Peter may have forgotten Lisa as his wife, but he fell in love with her again and asked her to marry him… again.
“It was so touching to me. He fell in love with me twice. I feel honored. I feel like a princess, like Cinderella. I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” Lisa said.
Image by Oh Hello Alzheimer’s via Facebook
During their wedding, Lisa admitted that she knew her husband could forget who she was again. But she knows that no label can define what they have for each other.
“I’m his favorite person. I don’t need a label, like a wife or nicknames he used to call me. Our hearts are connected in a way that all I need is for him to feel safe, and he does. And he loves me, and I love him, so that’s all that matters,” Lisa said.
Image by Oh Hello Alzheimer’s via Facebook
Lisa chronicles their journey on their Facebook page, “Oh Hello Alzheimer’s” to inspire and motivate others going through the same experience. “Our Alzheimer’s journey, sometimes raw, always tender and real.”
She is also currently working on a book about their story and lessons.