JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Tuesday was a special day for several nursing home patients in the metro area. They were able to spend Christmas Day in their home, with their family.
"Hey sweetie, how are you this morning?" said Carrie Edwards.
It was a moment of joy. This was the first time in years Army National Guard Veteran of 27 years, Nathaniel Edwards, had seen the inside of his home."
"I have my husband home for the first time in three years," said Carrie Edwards.
Seventy-two-year-old Edwards was diagnosed with Alzheimer more than ten years ago at the age of 59. Carrie, his loving wife of more than 40 years, visits him at the G. V Montgomery V. A. Medical Center in Jackson every day, she said coping with the disease forces him to have both good and bad days.
"We get him to laugh sometimes and sometimes he looks at me and is like who is that strange woman," said Edwards. "The only times we were apart before he went to the nursing home was on military duty, he was in the National Guard or something he had to go on a convention to. He worked at the post office."
A total of ten patients were selected from ten different nursing homes in the area. American Medical Response picked the patients up and transported them to their metro area homes.
Jim Pollard said, "This is a way for our crews to give back for the company to give back to the community," said AMR spokesman Jim Pollard.
Pollard said this is a joyful project that each EMT and paramedic is happy to be apart of.
"We work in a lot of stressful situations obviously our EMT's and paramedics at AMR and this project we get to interact with the families and the patients at a much warmer light," added Pollard.
With the tree lit and presents neatly wrapped below Carrie said she is overjoyed to have her husband home for the holiday.
"It's great to have him home. And all the children and the grands are excited," said Carrie Edwards.
This is the 21st year AMR has hosted Home for the Holiday.
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