Away from Her

Last night, I finally decided to sit down and watch the movie "Away from Her". I heard about this movie last year, and have been putting off watching it because of its subject matter. It is about a couple in their early 60's who are very much in love, Grant and Fiona. Early on it is discovered that Fiona has the beginnings of Alzheimer's and it quickly progresses to the point where she decides she wants to be put in a care facility. One of the rules of this facility is that once Fiona is admitted, Grant cannot come to visit her so that she can properly adjust to her new surroundings. When he finally comes to visit he realizes that she does not remember him, and not only that, but she has also formed a close attachment to another patient there named Aubrey. Day after day Grant comes to visit his wife, only to have to watch her with another man.

My heart broke watching this movie, I cried and cried and cried and cried. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not an emotional movie watcher, but this one hit me hard. There are a couple reason for this:

a) I have a history of this in my family.

b) I have a close family member who I believe has been showing warning signs of this disease.

c) In the past year, I have become more sensitive to the relational bond between two people known as love.

d) I find myself more and more being able to experience the emotions that others are going through (i.e. your spouse no longer remembering who you are and having to watch them fall in love with someone else).

A and B are the reasons I did not want to watch this movie, even though I know its a Hollywood interpretation of sorts, I was scared. I saw a lot of similarities in the behaviour of Fiona and that of my family member whose memory seems to be failing. I was also made even more so aware of how hard it is to watch see the light go out of someone you love so dearly. I have so much more respect for all those who are touched by this disease. So, as sad as I found the whole movie, I was able to gain strength from it, and be encouraged...sorta.