Love conquers all

In January 2001, when Rod Oltz walked over to a group of customers at his sports bar in Minnesota and asked how they were doing, little did he know that he was about to meet the love of his life - Sandy. "She was dancing on the table and seemed to have been the life of the party," recalled Rod.

However, his initial attempt to get acquainted with the spunky red-headed beauty was resisted. "She didn't even want to tell me her name, so my friends and I called her Reba, since she looked like the singer and sitcom star," he added.

Intrigued by Sandy's bubbly personality, Rod pursued her for days until she finally decided to go out with him. That initial date spiralled into a year of courtship, and in January 2002, Rod decided to surprise Sandy during a special birthday dinner she had planned for him at an Italian restaurant. "We were talking and in the middle of our conversation, he just asked me if I would marry him. I said 'what?' and he repeated the question and I immediately started crying," Sandy reminisced.

The Minnesota couple got married three months later, on April 6 at Sandals Negril in Westmoreland, Jamaica.

Fast-forward 12 years later, and the couple have found themselves at the same resort, ready to recommit to each other against the backdrop of the seven-mile beach with the cool Caribbean breeze on their faces. Sandy, styled in a simple yet elegant white gown with a sequined bodice, holds a bouquet of orchids as she walks along the beach to the soothing sound of Kenny G to meet her enthralled husband, dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt and dark grey pants. Everything seems perfect ... with the exception of one thing - at the age of 46, Sandy has been diagnosed with an early onset of Alzheimer's disease.

A brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills, Alzheimer's can severely disrupt one's daily life and can also result in death. Although mainly believed to affect those over age 65, an increasing number of younger persons have fallen prone to the disease, a fact that Sandy came to learn when she was diagnosed in 2011. "I was a registered nurse at the time and I was at work when I realised I kept forgetting my passwords, and also had difficulty learning new things," she shared, describing her first set of symptoms. "The doctors I worked with recommended that I take some time off, and six to nine months later, after doing several tests and hearing different theories, I was diagnosed with an early onset of Alzheimer's disease," she explained.

stronger marriage

The diagnosis has inevitably changed their lives, but - as her husband puts it - for the better. "It has made our marriage stronger and we have become more dependent on each other," Rod disclosed. Despite its seemingly limited impact on their marriage, the diagnosis has affected every aspect of her life, including her job. "I lost my licence, so I no longer work as a registered nurse," she said. Sandy and Rod's two teenage sons, Jack and Carl, have also had to adjust to their mother not remembering some key things. "In spite of the obvious effects it may have on them, they have been handling it well and help out a lot with some of the things I forget to do," noted Sandy.

Following the diagnosis, the couple created a bucket list to include a return visit to Sandals Negril to renew their wedding vows. As luck would have it, their appearance on the United States-based Katie Couric daytime show to talk about the impact of Alzheimer's resulted in Rod and Sandy winning a vacation to the luxury property, courtesy of Sandals Resorts International.

"We are elated to know that we could come back to Sandals Negril. Everything was perfect! Our room was great, the ceremony was seamless and the staff ... everyone was extremely warm and friendly," they shared.

Not only did the couple get to recommit to each other, but they also got to recreate another special moment. "We had our wedding dinner at the resort's Italian restaurant, Cucina Romana, and for us it was reminiscent of the dinner we had the night when Rod proposed," Sandy relayed.

In addition to renewing their vows at Sandals Negril, the couple was also able to tick off another wish from their bucket list. "We went rock climbing in Minnesota recently, and that was something I really wanted to do, so I'm glad we got to do it," Sandy said excitedly. Among the other items on her list are a Caribbean cruise and owning a red convertible.

In the meantime, she is adjusting to her 'new life'. "It's hard sometimes because I'm used to being so independent. But I've learnt that you just have to enjoy what you have before you lose it," Sandy reflected. She added that her husband, who has been very supportive through all of this, has been a pillar of strength for her. "He's very kind and sweet and I admire his sense of humour and his faith. I couldn't have made it this far without him."

Rod notes, however, that Sandy's personality has played a large role in helping her to cope with her disease. "You rarely see her in a dull moment; she's always positive and upbeat," he shared, beaming with pride, "and in spite of her condition, I love her even more now."