Simon McDermott was devastated when his nearly-80 year-old father Ted was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Tragically, Ted’s condition deteriorated quickly, and he soon could not remember his own family members.

After spending years struggling to find ways to make his father happy, Simon came up with a brilliant idea!

When he was younger, Ted was a renowned singer who loved performing. When Ted’s Alzheimer’s began to get really bad, Simon would drive him around in his car while they listened to oldies. Though Ted could not even remember his own name, the sound of the music brought him back to the good ole days.

Simon then got the shock of his life when his father began to sing along with the songs that were playing. He knew all the lyrics, as they had been imprinted on his brain! This made Simon’s heart sing, as it reminded him that his beloved father was still in there somewhere.

Simon recorded one of their car sessions, and the camera captured his father singing “Quando Quando Quando” by Tony Renis and Emilio Pericoli. The video went viral within hours of Simon posting it online, as it touched the hearts of others whose family members have been diagnosed with the debilitating disease. The video gives anyone who has a loved one with Alzheimer’s hope, as it reminds us that the people we love are still in there somewhere despite the horrifying disease they are battling.

Check out Ted’s performance in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see it as well!