We Can Do This

In was an unusually hot and humid day in July. More significant than the oppressive weather, however, was the turbulence churning within us. My husband, Jerry, and I had just learned of his Lewy body dementia diagnosis.

We couldn’t completely understand the myriad of troubling symptoms and the news of it took us by storm. I can recall to this day every arduous step from that doctor’s office to our car. As we made our way through the parking lot, my husband said, “Can we hold hands? I can’t do this alone.” And I quietly slipped my trembling hand in his.

In the days that followed, I couldn’t breathe, sleep or think, and we were both sinking. But one afternoon as we sat in silence outdoors, our eyes met briefly and I said, “Can we hold hands today? I can’t do this alone either. I have prayed and prayed.” We smiled and wept softly in each other’s arms. But with tears of joy and relief this time, knowing now that heaven had heard our cries and our prayers.

From that day on, we knew that we were not walking this journey alone. Together and with God as our hope and strength, we could go forward. We had discovered in our desperation that our burdens would be lighter with God by our side. We could do this.