This is Lucy, Sharon's mother.  Ray wrote these poems about her.
By the way, Ray and Lucy celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in 2000!
You can learn more about Alzheimer's Disease at the following location.
Update:  Lucy passed away on Dec 31, 2000
 About Alzheimer's Disease

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Alzheimer's crept into our life,
And it's tentacles, groping, are rife.
Though I try to be strong,
It keeps creeping along,
And it's taking away my sweet wife.
My life-style has changed quite a lot.
All our plans for the future are shot.
Though I still have my wife,
It's a hard, lonely life;
But it's mine, if I like it or not.
There are problems to solve, I allow;
Sometimes I don't really know how.
There's continuous care,
And the respites are rare,
But there's no way I'd give it up, now.
I look to God daily and pray,
That He'll help me to get through each day.
When all's done and said,
And she's safely in bed,
That He'll take all my tension away.
And often I need to get rest,
In order to be at my best.
In the Alzheimer's class,
I hope I will pass,
As I tackle this difficult test.
I need patience to calm every fear,
And love to dry every sad tear.
I pray I will last,
'Til this trial is past,
As Heaven's sweet chariot draws near.
 

by Ray Prillwitz
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The one I love is leaving me,
She's changing every day.
Alzheimer's is the moving van
That's taking her away.
Her memory's gone, her hands don't work
Like they used to work before;
And all the things she used to do,
She can't do any more.
I miss her conversation,
And her understanding, more;
I have to think for both of us,
But that's not too hard a chore.
Sometimes she sits there in her chair,
With a blank look on her face.
I think she's somewhere living
In a long-gone time and place.
But oft, her eyes are bright and clear,
On her face is a great big smile.
I rejoice to see that she's back again,
Though it's just for a little whil
I need her to be with me,
As she's been for all these years,
And to hold her fragile hands in mine,
And to shelter her from fears.
So that when she needs assurance,
She will know that I am there;
That I never will forsake her,
That I really, truly care.
God grant me true devotion,
And patience from above;
That I may always show to her
A strong, undying love.
If God will keep her by my side,
(Be it years or be it days)
I want that time to be well spent,
As we end our Earthly ways.
When God calls I know she'll travel
To her heavenly home on high;
And I know I'll join her there, someday,
In our mansion in the sky.
 by Ray Prillwitz
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I see her in her favorite chair; her eyes are moist with tears,
I wonder if her mind is full of thoughts of long-gone years.
As I near her chair, her eyes light up; She welcomes me with joy,
A smile appears on her care-lined face, like a child with a brand-new toy.

We sit together, holding hands, and talk of mundane things.
I try to fill in missing thoughts, that loss of memory brings.
We talk of clouds and other things, like, how I’ve spent my day.
Her questions stay unfinished ‘cause the thoughts have gone away.

As I leave her there, I feel the loss; her companionship I miss.
I hold her close for just a while, and tenderly, we kiss.
But although she can’t remember things that happened just before,
I know that she’ll remember me, beyond the closing door.

I’m sure we have it better now, than someday it will be;
I’ll look into her eyes one day, and no recognition see.
And then I’ll know she’s in God’s care, he’ll keep her in His love,
Until, together, we will walk the Golden Streets above.

by Ray Prillwitz
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I search in my darling’s careworn face,
In vain, just to see a smile.
I wonder what thoughts she is thinking;
Does she feel that her life is a trial?

Sometimes I think maybe she’s dreaming,
A smile quickly lights up her face.
But the smile, though so welcome, is fleeting,
And the blank look comes back, in it’s place.

I wonder, sometimes, is she thinking of me:
Is she lonely, and does she feel pain?
Is her heart full of sadness or longings?
...And I’m looking for answers, in vain.

But I know that our Heavenly Father
Is watching His dear child, with care;
And I know when her time is accomplished,
He’ll call her, His Heaven to share.

So for now, I intend to be faithful,
Each day in her sweet presence spend;
Just to hold her frail hand and love her,
To stay by her side ‘til the end.

by Ray Prillwitz

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She answers “hi” when I greet her;
She says she is feeling fine;
But her face does not show recognition,
And I know that right then, she’s not mine.

As I reach for her hand, just to hold it,
And I start simply rubbing her knee,
I see her lined face slowly soften,
And I know then she knows it is me.

I speak to her simply and slowly,
And sometimes I think she’s aware.
But then, when I pause in my talking,
Her eyes close...she’s no longer there.

I’m content that she knows I’m her husband,
And to watch her expression of care,
And I bask in the fact that she’s happy,
And enjoys it just having me there.

I know that one day she’ll not know me;
I dread for that day to appear;
But because of God’s promise of comfort,
Though I’m sad, He will dry all my tears.
 

by Ray Prillwitz

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