When Lillie Downing joined her mom in dropping Grandma off at a nursing home, neither knew quite what to expect. But Lillie captured what happened in a now-viral photo of lonely Grandma that has the Internet going wild!
Inspirational Story Behind Viral Photo Of Lonely Grandma
Watching a loved one sink into dementia isn’t easy. And realizing you’ve finally hit a point where the person needs to go into a home can be pretty tough, too. The worry… the guilt… the unpredictability of your loved one’s reaction. It all adds up to make for a pretty stressful situation.
Surely Lillie and her mom were battling all of these emotions as the took Lillie’s Grandma, Gladys, to her new home — a facility specialized for patients with dementia. But God had something special in store in this truly inspirational story!
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The move had to be scary for both Gladys and her family. But in no time, Lillie’s grandma met a woman with the same name. And the two instantly hit it off!
Lillie shared a touching photo of the new pals on Twitter, with a caption reading:
“Took my nan to her new care home today that's for people with dementia, she met a lady who had the same name as her and they held hands the whole time they watched TV, the lady on the left (gladys) repeatedly said to my nan ‘don't worry you've got me now' “
Took my nan to her new care home today that's for people with dementia, she met a lady who had the same name as her and they held hands the whole time they watched TV, the lady on the left (gladys) repeatedly said to my nan ‘don't worry you've got me now' 😩😩😫😫😫😫😫😩😩😩 pic.twitter.com/IJ9ozcsvKS
- Lillie (@_lilliedowning) April 15, 2018
Responses To Viral Photo Of Lonely Grandma
The heartwarming moment went viral online, and thousands of folks replied to the viral photo of lonely Grandma.
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Users celebrated the new friendship while sharing their own emotional stories of loved ones with dementia.
Thanks for sharing this. Bitter sweet no doubt. My beloved had dementia. Wicked wicked disease 😢😔 I'm glad your Nan has found a friend x
- lillyloo (@Lilllyloo) April 17, 2018
This is a brilliant story lille x my father had dementia and it was very difficult to deal with it, but he too me a friend in his home and they walked around everywhere together, god bless your Nan and her new friend, best wishes from Ireland 💙😁😁😁
- Ray woods (@Kippax73) April 17, 2018
😢😭😭😭😭 oh that’s really sweet. I am sorry your nan got dementia. My Granda has it and it’s awful. He’s so polite when I see him he always says oh this is nice. And I forget for a split second that he has dementia then he’ll say who are you?
- Judith wappett (@meadowbank31) April 17, 2018
And many paid tribute to just how special grandmas are in our lives.
My grandma had dementia as well. But passed away at home last year in May. Can’t believe it’ll be a year next month. Grandmothers are precious. You realise later on in life that how important they were as role models. Losing both grandma’s in two years was just hard.
- Rukhsar. (@rukhsarahmed786) April 17, 2018
this melts my heart.. people really don't take care of the elderly enough! please care for your grandparents and treasure every moment. i took my nan out today for shopping and lunch and we do that every tuesday and tomorrow we are having a bbq and sitting in the garden all day💛
- messyjessy🤪 (@jbalkay) April 17, 2018
I am so sorry to hear that 🙁 I have lost both of my grandmothers too and miss them dearly. you are so right – they are so precious ❤
- B (@Purrmino) April 17, 2018
For Lillie and her mom, the special moment was just what they needed. Both left the nursing home in tears, comforted by the knowledge Grandma wasn’t alone!
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
h/t: Indy 100
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