Man, 56, with Alzheimer’s Forgets Wedding but Not Love–He Proposes to His Wife Again

A woman shared how her husband with Alzheimer's proposed to her the second time while they were watching a heartwarming wedding scene in a TV show in December 2020. They had been previously married in August 2009.

Marrying someone, especially a person you love, happens to be one of the most life-altering decisions. However, the joy only multiplies when you get to say "I do" to your life partner not once but twice in a lifetime.

54-year-old Lisa Marshall from Andover, Connecticut, has always been there for her 56-year-old husband, Peter Marshall, not only as his wife but also as his caretaker.

The couple first met as neighbors in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 2001. They were both divorced at the time. Peter had moved to Connecticut to work as a compliance manager for a finance company, and Lisa worked in radio advertising. She also added:

“We had a long-distance relationship for eight years because neither one of us wanted to uproot our children. But after my youngest went off to college, we decided to get married (sic)."

The two became inseparable over time, taking their friendship to the next level. They decided to get married on August 13, 2009, surrounded by their adult kids in a beachside gazebo in Turks and Caicos.

As time went by, Lisa began to sense something was wrong. Her husband had started to forget things, including his keys, wallet, and even struggled in forming proper sentences. At first, she thought it was due to old age. She also shared:

"It was my little secret to ignore until friends and family members started making comments, too, and then I knew it was something real."

On February 14, 2017, heeding the advice of his family and friends, Peter went to see a doctor, after which he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's on April 30, 2018. Lisa then took on the role of being her husband's full-time carer.

With the passage of time, Peter's health condition began influencing his married life. Some of the most important and worthwhile memories of his life with Lisa began slipping from his mind. Talking about her difficult experience, Lisa recalled:

"The thing I miss the most is intelligent conversation or dialog with him. He has no idea what these words mean."

Eventually, Peter reached a point where he forgot who his wife was. Lisa explained that it happened when they were on a trip to their rental home in Rhode Island. The couple often visited the spot when they wanted a beach holiday.

Lisa further revealed how her husband astonished her one day when they were watching an emotional wedding scene on the TV show "New Girl." He expressed his desire to marry Lisa, not knowing he had already done so 12 years back. Lisa also said:

"It was so touching to me. He fell in love with me twice. I feel honored. I feel like a princess, like Cinderella. I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

Soon afterward, Lisa's daughter, Sarah Brehant, who was also a wedding planner, encouraged her mom to walk down the aisle once again. So on April 26, the couple renewed their wedding vows with the support of a dementia specialist.

Lisa also runs a blog on Facebook called "Oh Hello Alzheimer's," primarily focused on her journey with Peter, but also to raise awareness and help other people facing a similar situation.

Regardless of how much time Lisa has left with her loving husband, she is ready to cherish the little memories and is grateful that the love they share will always stay with her.