After memory loss: He proposed, she said yes, again

"Every time Linda Feldman visits her husband, Michael O'Reilley, in memory care, he falls in love with her again. He has Alzheimer's and does not remember their nearly four decades of marriage only the feeling that they belong together. So he proposes, again and again. And Linda always says yes. The couple's story shows what Alzheimer's can take and what it often leaves behind."

"Feldman and O'Reilley met while serving as Alameda County public defenders. She remembers watching him in the courtroom and feeling charmed by his style, cadence, and presence a feeling that was mutual. He told her he fell in love the day they met. He had a gift, Feldman said, recalling the days she'd watch him at work. They began dating."

Linda Feldman's husband, Michael O'Reilley, has Alzheimer's and repeatedly falls in love with her during visits, remembering only the feeling that they belong together. O'Reilley does not recall their nearly four decades of marriage but continually proposes, and Feldman always accepts. Alzheimer's affects more than 7 million Americans age 65 and older. Feldman and O'Reilley met as Alameda County public defenders, developed a bond through courtroom admiration, and formed a blended family. Their life included travel and mutual professional support. A simple domestic moment prompted marriage, and memory loss later altered their shared history while preserving emotional connection.

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