A heart-warming singalong
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340469)
Rockingham, Australia
May 27, 2017 3:14am CST
We came across a marvellous YouTube clip the other day and have been watching it on and off since. It is one of those clips which has gone viral and maybe many of you have already seen it.
It is of a mother and son singing hymns together. The mother has Alzheimer’s and has had to go into an assisted living. Her son, Kelly Riding, visits when he can and they sing the old hymns together as they used to when the son was a child. The mother plays guitar and sings harmony without missing a beat. It is really heart-warming to watch. You might like it too if you haven’t already come across it.
The photo is of my mother at the age of 101.
Mom is 88 now. She's in assisted living and has Alzheimer's but she can still play and sing better than anyone in my eyes. I realized while I was singing wit...
57 people like this
56 responses
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
27 May 17
It is something that even with Alzheimer's disease at an advanced stage people hang on to those long term memories. I have also come across people who have had strokes. They are unable to speak but when it comes to singing they can sing their hearts out! Amazing.
13 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
15 Jul 17
My mom had Alzheimer's and a stroke but couldn't do anything after that. She lived for 6 years after them in a wheel chair.
@JudyEv (340469)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May 17
I don't know if you watched the clip or not but the woman never looks at her fingers, just keeps strumming away with little fill-ins now and then. I read once that 'singing' sits in a different part of the brain to 'speech' but I don't know if that is right or not.
5 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
27 May 17
Cripes Judy that brought tears to the old eye of me haha.
Your Mothers photo here is so lovely, bless, thanks for sharing it with us.
9 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
27 May 17
@JudyEv Oh yes they did. No doubt..I have to ask is your Mother still alive Judy, didn't want to assume?
6 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
28 May 17
@JudyEv I am sorry Judy. She was simply beautiful.
4 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
28 May 17
@JudyEv I saw a movie on how music can reach people suffering from Alzheimer's and recommending it be prescribed as treatment
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340469)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun 17
@arthurchappell The benefits of music on Alzheimer's patients seems to be getting more attention lately.
3 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
24 Jun 17
This was delightful. I suggested it to a few of my followers.
What a beautiful MOM you have.
6 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
27 Jun 17
@JudyEv Yes, I miss my Mom and Dad very much. My hope is in the resurrection, that I will see them again some day.
God has promised us that in the Bible. Acts 24:15
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
7 Jun 17
Yes this is amazing. It is awesome that something like this can continue to draw them together.
5 people like this
@buenavida (9984)
• Sweden
31 May 17
It is amaing that she can remember the words and can play well - One friend told me that when she was working at a home with elderly, that they could remember the songs they sang when they were young..
5 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
27 May 17
@JudyEv That is a heartwarming video to share with us.That is a lovely picture of your mother.
5 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 May 17
101! My mother lived to 99. It is amazing that patients like that can recall music.
6 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
1 Jun 17
Wow! Over 100! That sounds like a sweet video too
6 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
31 May 17
Congratualtions on the long life of your mom! That was a very nice video. 
3 people like this
@rebelann (112885)
• El Paso, Texas
27 May 17
That is a sweet video. It's a shame she has Alzheimer's.
Mom used to sing too, then shortly after she turned 97 she had a stroke and couldn't speak anymore after that. I was lucky enough to have gotten some videos of her singing but I haven't posted them on YouTube.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340469)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 May 17
It is very sad when they become unable to speak. I had an uncle who lost his speech through a stroke but when it first happened he would try to hard to talk to us making all these 'noises' slowly and carefully but you couldn't make sense of them. Very sad.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (21957)
• Australia
26 Jun 17
I listened to more than one of their songs. The one "praying for someone like me" is also very moving to hear, moving me to tears, actually.
I heard recently that that great country singer Glen Campbell also has advanced Alzheimers now. Apparently, their singing voice, and memories, are the last to go. The brain hangs onto these for the longest.
Your own mother still had a nice sparkle in her eyes at 101. Lovely picture.
Glen Campbell's daughter Ashley Campbell offers a health update on her father, who is in a memory care facility living with Alzheimer's.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
28 May 17
Thank you for sharing that. My mom was 88 and still enjoyed singing with her musical friends. They had a luncheon once a month and loved to sing together. They miss her.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340469)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 17
@Jeanniemaries That's pretty sad. All that era would have to be getting on in years now.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Jun 17
@JudyEv It's sad to see, I saw Kris Kristophersen awhile back, He did a one man show and could still remember most of his songs. Once in a while he messed up but you know he is almost done performing. So many of the greats now are at that point, Probably always have been but we just weren't as aware.
2 people like this
