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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Lydia Stephens

Teen who cares for her grandfather with Alzheimer's sings to him to keep his memory alive

A teen who cares for her grandfather with Alzheimer's uses her beautiful voice to keep his memory alive.

This video shows the touching moment between 17-year-old Grace Heery and her 86-year-old Grandfather John Baker, as they both sing Danny Boy.

Grace started playing the guitar when she was seven, and it was soon discovered that she has a beautiful voice to go with her musical talent.

She now uses her skills to play songs to her grandfather, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six years ago.

Grace Heery and her grandfather John Baker. (Grace Heery)

Earlier this year, we shared this emotional video showing the moment a dad with Alzheimer's suddenly starts singing a Liverpool anthem.

"It is proven that music really helps people with Alzheimer's, it triggers their memory and brings things back," said Grace.

"My grandfather always used to sing this song, so I learned it so we could sing it together."

Grace and her parents moved in with John and his late wife in their home in Port Talbot around seven years ago.

A couple of months after John's wife died, he was also diagnosed with the condition. He is now in the later stages of Alzheimer's.

Grace said: "He knows who we all are, and I can safely say that us living with him has helped, I don't think he would be the way he is now if we didn't.

"We spend all our time together, he comes everywhere with us. We have a really close family system."

Grace learnt Danny Boy so she could sing with her grampa (Grace Heery)

John used to work in the local steel works, and still shares stories with his family of his travels all around the world, especially the time he visited Hong Kong, but he is starting to struggle more with the day-to-day confusion.

Her mum Katrina said John is his granddaughter's biggest fan and she couldn't be more proud of daughter.

Grace, who is head girl of St Joseph's School and Sixth Form Centre, is also a member of the National Youth Choir, where she sings soprano. She plans to go to university to study pharmacology in the hope of eventually becoming a patent attorney.

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