Pamela (Pummy) Hickling suffers from severe Alzheimer's. Photo / Mike Scott
On their wedding day, March 28, 1959, Warwick made a commitment to look after Pummy (Pam) in sickness and health.
"Now it's time to honour it. Simple as that."
Pummy, 83, has been living with dementia for years. She forgets Warwick is her husband, struggles to know what to do with a fork, and at dusk she walks around the house in circles talking to herself and the furniture.
A mother's day note to Pamela (Pummy) Hickling, who suffers from advanced dementia. Photo / Mike Scott
The retired couple live in a house Warwick built at Wainui beach in Gisborne. They had planned to buy a cabin on a cruise ship - their first overseas trip together - but Pummy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
"This is the woman you've spent 61 years with, you've made love to thousands of times. Whatever I wanted to do in life, she always backed me. When we started on the farm, I couldn't have done it without her. She had three little kids under 5, she was in the yards chasing the sheep, I'd be crutching all day. She'd sort out the wool then we'd go home at night and she'd cook a meal. You don't forget that."
Pamela (Pummy) Hickling suffers from severe Alzheimer's and is looked after by her husband Warwick in their Gisborne home. Photo / Mike Scott
He breaks off. "I'm getting emotional."
Warwick says he never imagined he would end his days as a "house husband" and "nursemaid" but he still sees glimpses of the girl he fell in love with.
Pamela (Pummy) Hickling forgets who her husband is and struggles with the basics. Photo / Mike Scott
"I love Pummy as much as I ever did. All I know is I am happy doing the right thing. I can sleep with a clear conscience, knowing I've done my best."
