“I love my wife,” says Tony. “I have been married to her for 56 years.” After meeting through mutual friends in Montréal, Tony and his wife Molly – both originally from Barbados – have been inseparable for more than half a century. Tony calls their relationship “magic,” even as they have faced a series of tragic, life-changing events.
When they retired from their successful careers in finance, they thought they had decades of enjoyment ahead. Instead, one of their sons was diagnosed with and died from cancer. In the aftermath, Molly struggled with depression and then suffered a stroke. While she recovered, it wasn’t long before she developed dementia which changed the way this long-time couple lived their day-to-day lives.
To keep up with Molly’s care requirements at home, Tony sought and found classes through a local agency supported by United Way. With that guidance and the support of a Seniors Day Program that became a favourite of Molly’s, Tony and Molly found some of the help they needed. “This is an amazing program,” Tony says. “These people love Molly and she loves them. When I drop her off at the door in the morning, she runs in.”
Now, Tony has the time and energy to maintain their home and provide the help Molly needs, something that seemed impossible not long ago. He’s grateful to United Way and knows how important the help of the community has been to his life with Molly. “It is your loved one,” Tony says. “We should all support the United Way.”