Close Ad

Man with Alzheimer’s Sits Outside Every Day - Gets Beautiful Surprise Every Afternoon
painting of old man sitting in park
Uplifting News

Man with Alzheimer’s Sits Outside Every Day - Gets Beautiful Surprise Every Afternoon

One 91-year-old man with dementia sits outside every day not knowing exactly why. And then a group of his friends arrive and bring light to his life.

Though Gene McGehee can't remember the friends he makes every afternoon, he can remember how they make him feel.

When the 91-year-old McGehee heard the laughter of children from across the street, he went outside to investigate. In the mild cold of a January in Vidalia, Louisiana, he found a daycare full of kids playing and wanted to join them. He introduced himself to the daycare teacher Megan Nunez, who in return provided her name for Gene.


Gene has been meeting Megan for the first time everyday, for three years.

“Every day I cross the street and we meet again,” Megan said.

Why an Elderly Man with Alzheimer's Instinctively Goes Outside Daily

Gene has severe dementia, causing him to have such a terrible memory, he can barely remember his own face. In addition to the forgetfulness, there is another side effect of Gene’s severe dementia: loneliness. His daughter Cathy is grateful to the daycare kids, who include him in their games daily, for helping Gene through his loneliness.

Oh my goodness, they have been such a blessing to daddy. And he lights up.

Cathy

For an hour every afternoon, Gene meets the children outside. Though he won’t remember the interaction the next day, he will again hear the voices of the children and exit his home to meet them.

How One Elderly Man with Alzheimer's Makes Friends Everyday

Something deep in the recesses of his mind beckons him to visit those children, though he believes it’s for the first time. Hidden inside his fogginess is a memory that going outside to see these kids brings him joy.

He just goes right to the front yard. Because it’s love. And, you know, everybody responds to love.

Cathy

As for the children, all they know is their friend is struggling with an illness.

“We always tell the kids that his brain is kind of sick, but his heart remembers us,” Megan said.

How an Elderly Man and Some Kids Proved Unconditional Love Exists

Gene’s story is a testament to the power of love. It cuts through even the most confused mind and reminds the loneliest person of their worth. For Gene, the children’s love has given him something to look forward to, though he doesn't exactly remember what it is.

More Uplifting News from Goalcast:

spread love
"The only thing we never get enough of is love; and the only thing we never give enough of is love." - Henry Miller.

Hot Stories

Why Paul Walker Left His Only Daughter With Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel & Paul Walker were more than just friends, they were …

content.jwplatform.com

When the tragic news of Paul Walker's death surfaced, the world was left in shock. As one of the most beloved stars of the Fast and Furious franchise, his passing was felt deeply by fans around the globe. But perhaps the most devastating impact was felt by his daughter, Meadow Walker, who was left without a father.

Keep ReadingShow less
Life Stories
4 Signs You've Found a Kindred Spirit, Not a Soulmate
friends wearing same outfit

Spirituality exists beyond words — to a dimension where language can only hint at deeper truths. Any words used to attempt to describe or explain it will always be poor translations because words often fall short when describing spiritual experiences. It's like trying to capture the ocean's vastness in a photograph. It might show its surface but there's no replacement for the direct experience of reality.

RELATED: The Psychology and Spirituality Causes Of An Identity Crisis

On Defining Spiritual Connections

Throughout history, people have tried to capture extraordinary experiences and spiritual connections through language. Terms like soulmates, twin flames, and kindred spirits attempt to describe these non-ordinary bonds. Yet these labels are merely signposts that point to something mysterious and won't fully capture it.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relationships
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his parents Randi and Pat
Archive

Make no mistake about it: Patrick Mahomes is the face of the NFL. The Tyler, Texas native is the son of Pat Mahomes, a former Major League Baseball player, and Randi Martin.

He burst onto the scene in 2018 when he made history by throwing 50 touchdown passes and 5,000 yards in a single season — a record he shares with Peyton Manning. He followed up his initial success by leading the Kansas City Chiefs to an incredible victory at Super Bowl LIV. If that wasn’t enough, he carried the team through to yet another Super Bowl the very next year, though they ended up losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes has gone to two more Super Bowls since and he's won back-to-back titles (2023 and 2024).

Keep ReadingShow less
Family