She had forgotten his name, but she recalled the tune. At 90 years old and suffering from Alzheimer’s, she had not spoken coherently in weeks until her son took up the microphone
Alzheimer’s disease has stolen Kelly Ridings’ 90-year-old mother of her memory, emotions, and ability to live independently. However, it has not taken away one of her biggest passions: music.
It’s a passion she’s shared with her son since he was a child, long before she struggled to recognize his face. The Georgia guy now claims that it is the only thing that will help them reconnect. That led him to begin recording their mother-son songs a few years ago.
<img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-94750″ src=”https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2025-06-15-%D0%B2-21.32.17.png” sizes=”(max-width: 1194px) 100vw, 1194px” srcset=”https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.17.png 1194w, https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.17-234×300.png 234w, https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.17-797×1024.png 797w, https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.17-768×987.png 768w” alt=”” width=”1194″ height=”1534″ />
“Mom’s 88 now. She’s in assisted living and has Alzheimer’s, but she can still play and sing better than anyone, in my opinion,” Kelly said with a video of the two in 2017. “Most days I miss her, but she always comes back to me when we sing.”
Indeed, their love endures as they unite to perform “Poor Wayfaring Pilgrim” in a video that has garnered millions of views. Kelly’s mother plays the guitar well, her fingers still familiar with the strings, and harmonizes with her son. And the experience is equally wonderful and lovely.
The words come almost as effortlessly to her now as they did decades ago, providing a rare source of comfort and familiarity in an otherwise confusing world.
<img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-94751″ src=”https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2025-06-15-%D0%B2-21.32.32.png” sizes=”(max-width: 1186px) 100vw, 1186px” srcset=”https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.32.png 1186w, https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.32-251×300.png 251w, https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.32-858×1024.png 858w, https://armnews365.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Снимок-экрана-2025-06-15-в-21.32.32-768×917.png 768w” alt=”” width=”1186″ height=”1416″ />
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Being able to share these precious moments with his mother, to smile, laugh, and sing with the woman he will love for the rest of his life, was truly meaningful to Kelly, even though she doesn’t often remember him.
Kelly’s mother is fortunate in one way, despite having a life-threatening illness. Her son is really affectionate and adores her. Kelly understands how fortunate he is to have his mother, whose love constantly finds its way back to him through music.
Watch the mother-son duet in the video below and share it with others to brighten their day.
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