Peter and Lisa Marshall were married in 2009 after falling in love later in life.
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| Shared with permission - Lisa Marshall | Facebook |
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So in 2017, she decided to take him to the doctor where they discovered he had Alzheimer's, at the young age of 53.
While aging, typically above 65, is considered to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's, Peter had an unfortunate diagnosis.
"It felt like our lives were changed overnight."
Still, Peter had Lisa by his side who decided to quit her job and become a full time caregiver for him.
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At first, Peter would forget the little things. But eventually, he forgot that Lisa was his wife.
"It's difficult to watch Peter gradually forget pieces of the life we've built after over a decade of marriage," said Lisa.
She recalled one night when Peter walked her home as if she were a visitor. He would show her around but won't acknowledge that they both shared the home.
However, he went on to talk about his wife, portraying his immense love for her. That moment gave Lisa comfort in the middle of so much loss.
In an interview, Lisa explained what being a caregiver was really like.
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In an interview, Lisa explained what being a caregiver was really like.
“Peter unlearned how to eat a sandwich and cut his meat, brush his teeth, trim his nails and shave his face and head. So, I did these things for him. He needed help toileting and showering. The morning routine of personal care and dressing was exhausting. Imagine trying to dress a 6 foot man who is combative or not participating in putting on a shirt, or pants, or diaper or socks.
While the work was exhausting physically and emotionally, I was happy to help him because I knew Peter was not giving me a hard time, he was having a hard time.”
One night in 2020, while watching a wedding scene on TV, Peter turned to Lisa and said, “Let’s do it. Let’s get married.” He had no idea they were already married.
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But to him, Lisa was still the person he loved the most, his favorite person, even if he couldn’t remember why. Lisa didn’t remind him.
She just said yes. "I wasn't very excited at first to have another wedding. I just wanted to set my expectations low in case he wasn't fully there the day of the wedding," Lisa acknowledged on USA Today.
"The disease is so unpredictable."
Regardless, she thought it would be a great way to renew their wedding vows, even if Peter may believe it was their first wedding.
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On April 26, 2021, they renewed their vows in a small ceremony in Massachusetts. Peter was joyful and present, smiling as he stood beside Lisa.
He told her, “Thank you for staying.” And although he forgot the ceremony the very next day, Lisa never will. “He fell in love with me twice,” she said. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
Lisa shares her journey on the blog, Oh Hello Alzheimer’s, which led her to build a global community of fellow caregivers like herself who can relate to and express their progress and struggles.
Lisa is grateful to be able to marry the love of her life all over again.
"No matter what happens in these next few years, we'll always be together and I'll always love him," she added.
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| Shared with permission - Lisa Marshall | Facebook |
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In it, she not only reflects on their journey together but also offers practical advice and a roadmap for fellow caregivers to follow
Their story is a reminder that love isn’t always rainbows and clear skies. But true love ultimately finds a silver lining, just like Lisa did.
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| Shared with permission - Lisa Marshall | Facebook |
Today, Lisa is pouring her heart into a new book, Find Joy. No Regrets. which will be available this summer. Through it, she continues to inspire others with her message of resilience, healing, and finding joy even in life’s most difficult chapters.
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