Mon Amour (My Love)

CHAPTER 65

ANGELO ROI

"I know this is a lot to take in," the doctor stated, signaling that whatever he was about to reveal wouldn't bring joy. "Considering our assessments, which included cognitive tests and medical evaluations, it seems that Ricco is experiencing a form of dementia."

That confirmed my worst fear.

"Does this mean he has Alzheimer's?" I inquired, attempting to stay composed despite my trembling and the collapse of my entire world.

"Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, but there are other types as well. Based on our evaluations, yes, he has Alzheimer's, although we will continue to monitor his condition to comprehend it fully."

"Oh my god," Papa Allie uttered weakly, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks. "How ironic. I am a doctor and I didn't even know this is happening."

The doctor offered a sympathetic glance. "We used the MMSE to evaluate his cognitive function, and the results indicate that it's in the middle-stage."

"Grandpa's Alzheimer's wasn't discovered until it was in the middle-stage as well," I said, half-hoping this was all a bad dream that I would soon wake from.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, it's often at this stage that symptoms become more noticeable, due to increased damage to the brain's nerve cells. Is this the first time you've noticed the signs?"

"Actually, Azalea had been mentioning that Ricco was becoming forgetful," Papa Allie revealed, to my astonishment. "And there were days he went to work without bathing or changing his clothes. I didn't realize it was so serious. I thought... I thought it was merely his choice, seeing as he always looked neat and smelled pleasant, that missing a shower for another day wouldn't be a problem."

I was on the verge of scolding Papa Allie for not informing me earlier, when a memory from long ago surfaced - back when Ricco was still Kyle. He had wandered nearly naked to the police station and hadn't recognized me or Jane.

Could it be that he was already ill at that time?

The realization brought tears to my eyes. It was hard to accept. Why should it be Ricco, of all people? He's so young. And after everything he had endured, it seemed so unjust for him to face such a punishing affliction.

"It's often harder to see the signs when it's someone close to us. We're all human, after all." the doctor said.

"What are our options?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"We have treatments that can help manage the symptoms," the doctor explained. "They won't cure Alzheimer's, but they can improve quality of life. Also, lifestyle changes and support can make a significant difference."

Papa Allie wiped his tears, nodding slowly. "How can we support Ricco?"

"It's crucial to create a supportive and safe environment. Stay engaged with him, help manage his daily tasks, and maintain a regular routine. It's also important to take care of yourselves as caregivers. I recommend connecting with support groups and considering respite care when needed."

"Thank you, doctor," I said. "Can we see him now?"

The doctor nodded. "We're here to support you every step of the way. Let's schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss further and address any more questions you might have."

With that, I slowly approached the room where Ricco was. He greeted me with a smile.

How altogether sad, beautiful, and tragic.

*

A few days had passed since our visit to the doctor, and Ricco, with a resilience that was both admirable and heartrending, seemed to be holding up. Yet, beneath his composed exterior, it was clear he was just masquerading as fine.