Help for dad touches family

Dad has not had and easy life, and it’s not getting any easier.

He is 76 and lost his wife to cancer just over a year ago. Since then, he began a gradual mental decline due to dementia, which has been gaining in speed. I want to offer thanks on behalf of all Ron’s kids and grandkids to people for two recent incidents with Dad.

The first was in mid July when a lady in a pickup truck stopped on the Nairn overpass to help Dad. You see, he had tried to walk from Concordia Village to Island Lakes in 30 plus C degree weather. He collapsed due to the heat. He was very confused, but she still picked him up and took him to the hospital. We did not know he was missing until the hospital called to say he was admitted to the ER.

The lady in the pickup truck did not leave her contact info with the Concordia hospital so we were not able thank her and let her know that he was okay.

I hope she reads this so you know how grateful his family is that you stopped to pick up a man in need. Bless you.

The second incident was last week when again Dad went for a walk, from around Grace Hospital to where we are not sure. The Winnipeg Police Service out of the East District Office found Dad after he had walked for 12 and a half hours. He was very confused, dehydrated and really tired, but considering everything he was okay.

Over and over, we have seen news reports of missing people of all ages, and our hearts are heavy thinking, "I don’t know what I would do or how I could cope." Well, we do now. The truth is you don’t cope, you just keep going.

Over the hours Dad was missing, the constables talked with us, always with a very positive strength that we couldn’t help but draw from. Not only did they search for a missing senior, but they helped the family get through it.

Thank you all. We know we are lucky to get him back twice and are not waiting for number three. We are looking for a more secure living environment.

— Jo-Anne McNeil