This is a story of Bill and I and curling. It’s the story of how two people, who were dealing with Alzheimers disease found love through the love of curling. In 2011, both of our spouses, Ron and Marilyn were both diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. We did not know each other, although we lived in neighbouring communities of Tsawwassen and Ladner. It was a devastating time in our lives. I had curled briefly as a teenager, as both of my parents were avid curlers at the North Shore Winter Club. As a teenager, I found it boring, much to my parents disappointment and went on to play hockey for the rest of my life (60+ years). I dabbled in bonspiels through work, and boy were they fun! Bill however, began curling in high school and curled all his life. He eventually made it to Senior Nationals and continued to curl avidly along with his wife Marilyn, whom, he also met through a bonspiel many, many years earlier. Life changed dramatically for both of us in 2011 and we became caregivers to our spouses. I eventually gave up hockey, as it was important that I not be injured and usually involved being away from Ron for too long at a time. One of the most important decisions I made was to join a caregiver support group in my community. I learned how better to deal with Alzheimers disease and how better to help Ron and I navigate what was ahead of us, through the stories and experience of others in the same journey. Being social was necessary to survive the daily stresses. Because I had left hockey, I decided I would try out curling at our local rink, Tunnel Town Curling Club. I joined the Monday night and Wednesday day Ladies groups. I was welcomed by a wonderful group of women who taught me how to play and provided companionship and support yet again.
One of my skips was Perk Thurston, who had played with Bill’s wife Marilyn and was aware of their struggle with Alzheimers. Marilyn was losing her ability to curl safely and Bill was still trying to juggle playing and care for Marilyn whose needs were increasing. I had told Perk about our support group and she introduced me to Bill and Marilyn at the club one afternoon. I told Bill about our support group and suggested he join us for our weekly meetings. Bill attended a few of our meetings, and we occasionally crossed paths at Kin Village, where Ron and Marilyn were both attending an Adult Day Program for a few hours each week. It provided them with some different social interaction and it gave us a brief respite from care. Eventually Marilyn went into full care and subsequently Ron ended up in a longterm medical facility. I was now curling on a mixed team on Friday nights and Bill was on another mixed team. As fate would have it, a member of Bill’s Friday night team had to leave due to long-term illness and I became a member of that team.
Although Alzheimers disease brought us together, curling became our “glue” . Bill is an accomplished curler and a wonderful teacher, patient and calm, which is why he was such a good caregiver. We now curl on Men’s and Women’s nights well as Open League on Wednesdays and Mixed League on Fridays and enter any fun bonspiels and club spiels we can. We share a house, a dog and have wonderful supporting families that also curl with us. Although Ron and Marilyn have both passed away, we know they would be happy to know where we have both ended up. Curling is such a great social sport, very important part of our lives. We are both so grateful.
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