Touching scenes: This daughter reacts sincerely when her father, who has dementia, no longer recognizes her.
He: Calling me dad scares me.
Her: Does it scare you that I call you father? Why?
He: Because I don’t think I’m your father.
You: Then who are you?
He: I don’t know. So it must be me.
Her: I mean, if you don’t know who you are, you could be my father if you want.
Him: It could be me. I’m obviously someone.
You: You are someone for me.
The dementia patient explains how he classifies his feelings towards his daughter.
He: Yes, I think we are too, because I have feelings for you. There are feelings. I know this girl, this lady, she is important to me. She is important to me in my life. So you mean something to me.
I think I know this lady. I think this is my mother. You think this is your mother. Either way, I think I know her.
Her: Ok. So you know that you are safe around her and that she is a good person.
He: That’s how I feel around her, yes.
Her: Do you feel the same way around me?
He: Yes.
Only one thing counts for the daughter:
Her: Ok, I guess it really doesn’t matter who you think I am. As long as you feel safe around me and know that I love you and you love me, I’m fine with that.
He: I feel that way.
You: In my head and in my heart you are my dad. And you will always be my daddy. If that’s okay with you.
Him: Yes, that’s fine. But I don’t want to hurt you.
Her: You won’t hurt me. No matter what you think, you won’t hurt me, dad. And I always called you daddy. But if you want me to call you something else, I will. If that makes you feel better. I can call you Scott.
He: That’s my name.
Her: Ok. Then how about I just call you Scott? And you call me Bailey.
Him: Ok.
You: deal?
He: How do you feel about it? That hurts?
She: It doesn’t hurt me. i love you
He: I love you too. We are a family.
You: That’s us.