Alzheimer’s and dementia are diseases that make you forget about the beautiful life you have lived and take everything you have built after a lifetime away with the fading memory. However, some people are angels in human form who are not just concerned about their happiness but also care for others, and this Valentine’s Day, a woman, more like an angel, made a group of memory care residents experience something unforgettable.
The name of the beautiful woman is Sandy Cambron, who had personal experiences associated with Alzheimer’s as her mother-in-law, a woman she loved the most, lost her life after she fought her battle with Alzheimer’s for so many years. All the years when she had been fighting her battle, she had a baby doll that she was so emotionally invested in that the doll was buried with her after her death. It was clear that the doll, to her, was a source of comfort as she did not seem to forget the doll, and she even lost memory of who her family was and most of the memories from the past.
Looking at her mother-in-law’s attachment, Sandy and her husband, Wayne, decided to do something special for the memory care unit residents to honour their journeys and gift them something special: dolls! Soon, she got the news that one of her close friends, who was also her co-worker and her mother, was being shifted to the nursing home after years of battling Alzheimer’s. So, after getting the news, Sandy asked if she could visit the center and give her mother and other roommates baby dolls.
Shannon Gray Blair, Sandy’s friend, had an overwhelming reaction; she was overjoyed to listen to Sandy’s efforts. Looking at her mother’s roommate, Ms. Green, at so much peace after long, Shannon was surprised by how much comfort the dolls brought the patients. Their faces lit up when they saw the baby dolls, and Shannon states that their reactions can never be forgotten. While Sandy and Shannon conversed, they cried, thinking the actions were worth it.
This encouraged Sandy to take an even bigger step for the unit. A few weeks later, she was ready to execute the idea of gifting the dolls to the entire unit. There were not many of them, only 28 residents, but the intention behind the action was beautiful. This time, Shannon joined Sandy to prepare the dolls and coordinated with the facility for a smooth delivery process. Kindness spreads, and this is a perfect example of how, through little actions, you can inspire many.
On the day the dolls were supposed to be delivered to see the smiling faces, Sandy and Shannon went together for the distribution. They carried tiny baby dolls and a few stuffed puppies as well. All the dolls were arranged perfectly, wrapped in cozy blankets. While a few blankets were pink, the others were blue and white. Moreover, the beautiful little bows tied around them added to the cuteness.
All the dolls and puppies were gifted in the following hours, and every reaction filled the room with positivity and love. Everyone in the room who looked at the women with questionable eyes now had sparkly eyes full of gratitude. Most patients even started rocking the dolls, treating them like real babies and puppies. We spend time progressing all our lives, yet childhood innocence and the soul’s purity return when one gets old. Shannon extended words of gratitude to her friend Sandy, as she was the one who came up with the idea and included her in such a heart-warming experience.
The dolls did not just comfort the residents; they felt like they were experiencing flashbacks of the connections they had built throughout their lives, ones that they had forgotten because of the disease. Everyone who is a part of the nursing home, too, had teary eyes and bright smiles, as none had witnessed before. Practical experiences and love make you want to do something for the world and make it easier for others. Sandy’s dedication to the patients because of her MIL’s experience is proof of it.
Whether your idea is simple, you never know its impact on the other person’s life. No matter how tough life gets for you, this is the perfect reminder to be kind!
