A group of kind-hearted vacationers helped an elderly man with dementia who wanted to catch a wave one last time. In the beautiful footage, the group of five men can be seen placing Vernon Hodge on a boogie board, before pushing him along atop of an oncoming wave, cheering as he comes to the end of his ride. According to his daughter, Rachael Goodloe, Vernon has been diagnosed with FTD, or Tick’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s - both of which have increasingly taken their toll. Believing this might be Vernon's last trip to the beach, his wife Terry - who, along with Vernon, is in her 60s - approached a group who she had spoken to about Vernon's condition a few days earlier, asking if they would be willing to help him experience the thrill of the ocean once more. On the beach off Duck, North Carolina, the group - which included Robert Wall, RJ Wall, Ryan Giancola, Brendan Giancola, Thomas Coppolone - said they would be more than happy to help Vernon boogie board across the waves on July 16, and so they began to push him along for the unforgettable experience. Rachael captured the entire moment on film, and it was later posted on social by Ryan Giancola and a family friend, Erik Swanson, receiving heaps of praise.
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🛠️
Lifestyle