The Love Story Heard Around the World

Jan Schwark sits on the reclining chair inside her home on Sunday, December 3, 2017. Jan was a music teacher for over 50 years in the Lutheran school system and played the organ for her church, Saint Peter Macomb. "I've turned that piano into a shrine for my baby girl and put pictures of her and the kids on it. She's the only one who would play it so I dedicate that to her now," said Jan's husband, Don Schwark.

Saint Peter Lutheran Church and School sits covered in snow on Sunday, December 10, 2016. Saint Peter Macomb is the Schwark's home congregation and only a mile from their house. Jan used to teach music and choir classes there as well as played the organ during church services before her dementia left her unable to do so.

Don Schwark hugs his wife Jan Schwark while sitting to the left of their grandkids, Ryan and Karen Schwark, inside Saint Peter Macomb on Sunday, December 10, 2016. "Sometimes she'll wave her hand along with the music as if she's teaching again. Pastor saw it the other day, stopped whatever he was doing up there, and started crying. Yeah, she's still in there somewhere and she's still touching lives," said Don.

Don Schwark feeds his wife Jan Schwark oatmeal with honey on it while in their home on Monday, December 4, 2017. Over the summer Don sells both flowers and honey in front of his house. He grows both in his backyard. Don gives Jan a tablespoon of honey every day to help keep her healthy. "It won't help her mind much anymore but it will at least keep the colds away."

Don Schwark looks at a picture on his cousins phone while holding Jan in their home on Sunday, December 3, 2017.

Don Schwark lifts his wife Jan Schwark out of her wheelchair to move her to the toilet so nurses from Hospice can give Jan a towel bath in their home on Monday, December 4, 2017. "Taking care of her is like taking care of the babies I never could. You know, I worked on the farm and she would be 'Inside Mumma' and taking care of all our kids like I'm doing to her now. I told a younger couple at church yesterday 'Love each other while you both still know what love is because one day one of you might forget.' I'm lucky though, Jan has not yet forgotten what love is."

Photo albums from before Jan's dementia rest on the windowsill of the Schwark's home on Sunday, December 3, 2017.

Don Schwark laughs while hugging his wife Jan Schwark while she 'yaks' inside their home on Monday, December 4, 2017. Yakking is Don's way to describe when Jan starts saying noises that sounds like when a baby is trying to talk. "Are you saying you want to be included in the conversation too baby? Well ok keep talking then my cuddlebug! I never tell her to shut up when she does this. I take everything I can get from her," said Don after Jan started yakking.

Don Schwark met Jan when he was nineteen and she was sixteen. They were at a roller skating rink that was shared between the local youth groups. They had completely opposite lives growing up, but they started dating and fell in love. "Marrying her was natural, I can't remember when I asked her to marry me. I think we were just sitting in the car and I gave her the ring. She said yes of course!"

Fifty years later they celebrated their wedding anniversary in Branson, Missouri when Don noticed that something was not right. "I knew then that this was happening. She kept telling me that we were going the wrong way when we weren't. I knew we'd eventually find the big main road that led back to Michigan so I didn't argue and let her keep turning the wrong way." Both Jan's father and grandfather had dementia so Don knew that this would probably be part of Jan's life too. "She eventually started to try to run away. Not because she was unhappy, just because she didn't know. She was always trying to leave the house. I would lie in front of the door to keep her from leaving. She would fight me sometimes. She wouldn't want to come home. But she always did." Jan now has no control of her body and needs a constant care taker. Don has taken on that role.

Don and Jan were featured on Humans of New York. "My grandson heard that Brandon was in our area and messaged him. He said if you want a true love story you better go to this address, and not long after Brandon was here! It went viral! She's the love story that went around the world thanks to him." (Check out Brandon Stanton's story on them here, here, and here! It was a three part series.)

Don asked that these two letters be included in the final post. This first one is a letter from Jan that one of their kids wrote on her behalf. Don says that while she herself didn't write it, it's exactly what she would have said.

Dear Don,

Merry Christmas. Every year we learn more and more why we need a Savior. I am looking forward to Jesus taking me to heaven and making everything about me the way it is supposed to be. Please be patient with me as we wait for Jesus to make everything better again.

As we wait for better days in heaven, I am sure glad I can be with you each day. You are the best husband in the whole world. I am glad you meant it when you promised to be with me "for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health." I always hoped to be healthier to take care of you and do things with you. Sorry I am not able to do that.

I wish I could tell you how much I love you. I really do love you. I just cannot get the words out. I appreciate your patience with me and thinking about my needs every day. I pray every day for the Lord to give you strength and courage to keep on.

I have learned a lot about you in the past couple of years. You can do laundry! And you are a good caregiver. And you can cook and do dishes! If I had known all that years ago, I would have asked you to do more chores around the house!

We have had lots of good years together. We have laughed a lot and have wonderful kids and grandkids. Please keep telling me about the grandkids. I love to hear what they are doing.

Thank you for cuddling with me every day. It's my favorite part of the day.

I love you. Besides Jesus, you are the best gift I have ever received.

Love you always,

Janice

PS I love watermelon.

This second one is a tribute to Jan written by Don.

JANICE

This is a tribute to a wonderful and beautiful plus dedicated lady who was placed in my life by the Lord's designs.

When we were dating she always said she wanted to be a teacher but didn't think she wanted to teach in the Lutheran school. This is when the Lord himself stepped in and like the road block he placed in front of Saul, later Saint Paul. He placed in front of her a Lutheran roadblock. They needed a teacher. She accepted the challenge, and then as Jesus said to his disciples "Let the little children come to me and forbid them not," she said to many parents "Bring your children to me and I will teach them the word of the Lord." And they all know the story of Jesus feeding thousands with bread on fish while teaching them. With her musical ability for more then fifty years, thousands of people sat in our church and she fed them the music so they could sing praises to the Lord. The Lord placed her in my life. What a blessing she has been. She has given me children. They in turn have married and given us grandchildren. We proudly call all of them kids and grandkids our Lily's of the Field because they, at different times and different ways, have shared their faith with others. Yes, for years she took care of me. These last few years it has been my turn to take care of her. What a blessing it has been. Thank you Lord for letting her be the love of my life.

Don