And the guests who were there also benefitted from the party’s intent. "What I think about when I think about the party and Mike's mom, is the coming together of people who love her and love Mike, and how much beauty there is in that,”  Inez said.  “I also will always remember Susan's joy watching the kitten play throughout the afternoon.”

                Mike’s desire to make his mother happy by holding the party especially struck home with both Inez and me, since we both had a parent who suffered from dementia.  “We forget sometimes, when battling an illness such as Alzheimer's or dementia, that there are still moments of great joy and that we need to stop and savor those,” Inez said. “What Mike did, by bringing everyone together, is give us all a chance at joy."