Son’s Alzheimer’s tribute to Dad set to Kenny Chesney’s ‘While He Still Knows Who I Am’ will leave you in tears
I adore this song despite its heartbreaking nature. “While He Still Knows Who I Am” by Kenny Chesney is a raw, emotional journey into the heart of Alzheimer’s disease that goes beyond merely a tune. Why does this homage resonate so strongly with so many people? It’s the unsettling reality of clinging to ephemeral memories and the precious times that pass by too quickly.
Listeners have found solace and empathy in Chesney’s voice as they have recounted memories of lost loved ones and shed tears. What enigmas lurk within the lyrics, prompting us to pause and reflect? Is this music a subliminal reminder to treasure every moment? This homage is a bittersweet salve for anyone who has witnessed the gradual decline of a loved one; it is sad yet full of unwavering affection.
A son created this heartfelt film as a memorial to his father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. It is set to Kenny Chesney’s song “While He Still Knows Who I Am,” which captures the anguish and anxiety people feel when their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease fail to recognize them. The film opens with the son writing about the beginning of his and his father’s Alzheimer’s journey. In November 2011, the doctors diagnosed my father with Alzheimer’s. I made the decision that day that he would never forget me—or myself.
Singing along to the Kenny Chesney song, the son travels across bridges and down country roads on his way back to visit his father. The video includes heartfelt scenes of him driving, wiping tears from his eyes, while background music plays.
“I only knew him as my father,
I’m gonna get to know the man
I’m going back to see him
While he still knows
Who I am
This time I’m gonna kiss him
Instead of just shaking hands
Gonna tell him that I love him
While he still knows
Who I am
Thereafter, the video shows him grinning and spending time with his parents. There are adorable pictures of him holding hands with his father as they stroll down the shore and his parents sharing a kiss on a bench. The family will always treasure these priceless moments.
This film is “a tribute to all who are living with and dealing with Alzheimer’s disease,” according to the son’s comments on the YouTube channel. I’m glad this son made the most of his time with his father, but it’s hard to see families deal with this illness.