For people with Alzheimer’s and their families, it can be difficult to put the emotions that come with the disease into words. One country music artist, in particular, has been undergoing such. It is not him who has the disease but it’s his mother. As a matter of fact, he has dedicated a heart-wrenching song to his mom.
In one of his performances, Jay Allen escorted her mom on stage and sang an emotional tribute for her. Everyone was touched and moved. No dry eyes were seen, and all were in tears.
Note: In the United States alone, an estimated 5.7 million Americans of all ages are suffering from Alzheimer’s in 2018. In fact, it is the 6th leading cause of death in the country. And most notably, 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. To have an overview, it even kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
His Mom’s Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
Allen’s mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s when she was 51. Now that she’s 54, she is already in the latter stages of the disease. As a result, it has affected her speech, and she is unable to recognize her family. It has then become difficult for the family especially for Allen himself who’s out on tour and comes back home with his mom not recognizing him.
In an interview with People, Allen shared:
“You can’t prepare yourself for your mama walking in the door of your house and looking you right in the face and not knowing who you are.”
“Blank Stares:” A Song Dedicated to His Mom
In a performance in Iowa, Allen brings his mom on stage as he sings his self-written song, “Blank Stares.” This song is purely dedicated to her.
Following his interview with People, he told them that she [his mom] is normally a little bewildered before going on, but the moment they embrace each other, she is at peace again.
Determined with his advocacy, Allen told his bandmates:
“Whether we play for 5 people in a dive bar in the middle of nowhere or we play for 5,000 or 50,000 – we are always going to tell this story, we are always going to sing this song.”
Obviously, “Blank Stares” is an important part of Allen’s life. And his love for his mother is, without a doubt, a legacy that he will always continue to uphold forever.
Watch this emotional moment for Jay Allen and his mother as he dedicates his song, “Blank Stares,” to her:
Guy Sings Song About Mother's Alzheimer's
He wrote a song about his mother's struggle with Alzheimer's and it's so beautiful 🙌JAY ALLEN
Posted by UNILAD Sound on Monday, September 10, 2018
Tags
alzheimers, Blank Stares, Jay Allen