Daughter Captures Touching Clip Of Her Mother With Alzheimer’s Recognizing Her

Sep 07, 2021

Watching our loved ones grow older, and sometimes develop illnesses like dementia or Alzheimer’s, can be devastating. When these things happen, all we can do is cling to the good memories and hope for the chance to make more. One woman shared a video in August 2014 of the moment her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, recognized her and remembered her name. 

The daughter in the video is Kelly Gunderson, and when the video was originally posted her mother was 87. Kelly shared in her video’s description that her mother has Alzheimer’s, which is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia and there are more than three million reported cases in the US per year. The disease is progressive with the symptoms gradually getting worse over time.

The reason why the moment that Kelly’s mom recognizes her is so special is that it is rare. In the video, Kelly mentions that only a moment ago her mother didn’t know who she was. In that precious moment, Kelly’s mom said her name with certainty and was able to tell her that she loved her. This is the kind of gift that families suffering from Alzheimer’s pray for. 

The moment is fleeting, but even after it is clear that Kelly’s mom isn’t sure who she is anymore, there is still love in her eyes for her daughter. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease that steals time from families every year, but in this one moment captured on video, we got the chance to witness a miracle. Keep reading to hear more about Kelly’s story and how others responded to the video. 

Kelly posted her video on Youtube with the caption: “My 87-year-old mother with Alzheimer's knew who I was, even if it was for just a moment.” The video went viral back in 2014 and has been viewed nearly 10 million times. 

Kelly shared some more information in the comments section of her video. She wrote, “Thank you everyone for the nice comments. This was put on YouTube to bless others who have family members going through this. God gave me a moment with my mother remembering who I was. (Plus I am an identical twin which makes it even more special.) which doesn't happen often. Lots of times I am a cousin.”

The fact that Kelly’s mother recognized her and did not mistake her for her twin sister made it even more incredible. 

The video has almost 13 thousand comments with people from all over the world sharing stories of their own experiences with Alzheimer’s. It seems that Kelly’s video has brought hope to many people since it was originally posted. One commenter wrote, “My throat swells every time I watch this. Hearing your Mom say I love you is a privilege denied to many, so beautiful. She's beautiful and God bless you both!”

Another person said, “I come back to watch this video often, it is so uplifting and beautiful and never fails to bring a tear or two. If there was ever a video to describe love, this is it. Thank you so much for sharing it.” Hopefully, this incredible exchange between mother and daughter will continue to bring comfort to families suffering from Alzheimer’s. 

Did you find this video touching? Do you know anyone living with Alzheimer’s? Let us know, and pass this story along to your friends and family.