Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell

I'm posting a 2nd entry today.

I became interested in Malcolm and Barbara Pointon due to a recent post on the Alzheimer's Forum. So I did a little searching (can't really call it researching can we?).

There have been 2 documentaries made about the couple's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. The first, Malcolm and Barbara: a love story, was shown in 1999. The second is Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell. The final episode was aired August 8th, 2007 and was embroiled in controversy.

The controversy to me was ridiculous. It had to do with whether Malcolm actually died in the video. He actually slipped into a coma and died 3 or 4 days later.

Malcolm was diagnosed at age 51 and died in February, 2007 at age 66.

I found 4 parts on YouTube of Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell:

  1. Part 1
  2. Part 2
  3. Part 3
  4. Part 4
I found the final segment here on Mike Powers website.

Pretty difficult to watch.

There's probably more - but this is what I found.

4 comments:

Lori1955 said...

I watched part of two of the segments but had to stop both times. Just too disturbing. I'll try again another time.

Unknown said...

I watched all of them. It is very painful. It is so familiar to me. Malcolm's behavior and Barbara's response and what he says sometimes and how he looks.

My son watched Part 1 and the last segment with me today when my hospice aide came. We would look at each other when something familiar was shown. Some things were surprising. Some things he didn't know about. Some things I alone know.

I have been so dismayed and discouraged by some of the comments that people have posted on various forums about the documentary.

Very powerful documentary. I doubt many will watch it though.

Nancy said...

i just finished watching all the segments and i am crying and praying to God to not let russ go that long. it was very powerful, yet difficult to watch.

i too found myself thinking, yes, i have seen those behaviors and actions

thanks for sharing.

~Betsy said...

I spent some time this morning watching all of the parts. I am so sad after watching this and it reconfirms my belief that going the full journey with someone's spouse is the absolute worst.

I am also surprised at the lack of help from Britains National Health. I wouldn't expect curative treatments, but I certainly expected palliative care and respite for Barbara. Some on the Alzheimer's board bash the American health system and Medicare. From this documentary, I would say Medicare does more for us than the Brits get from their government.

Thank you for sharing this. I pray none of our LO's follow this same journey, but I know some will.