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Santacruz grandma gets 100th birthday surprise from Big B
After clinging on to every word of Big B's birthday greeting, Bernadine spent the rest of her party telling everyone about it
The centenarian suffers from Alzheimers and does not remember anyone, including her own sons, but didn't take more than a second to point at the screen and cry out, "That's Amitabh Bachchan, my son" on seeing the recording. D'souza,a resident of Odina Central Avenue in Santacruz, has had Alzheimer's for the past two years. She does not recognise any of her relatives or remember incidents from the past.
The only name she remembers is AmitabhBachchan. D'souza, who has six children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, was born in Goa but has lived in Mumbai since she was five. Married at 18, she had fours sons and two daughters -only two of whom are alive today.
"When she watches televsion the only star she recognises is Amitabh Bachchan. In fact that's the only name she knows. She does not even remember our names," said her granddaughter, Valerie Pinto. Her family said that owing to her age, she does not eat often.
"But each time she refuses to eat or gives up her food, we simply tell her that Amitabh Bachchan is coming to see her and that she must eat up. Then, she finishes her food quickly," Pinto added.
In fact, Bachchan crops up in almost very aspect of D'souza's life. Even her own grandsons are AB to her, and each time a man walks into the house she asks if he is Amitabh.
Her children and grandchildren take turns caring for her at her Santacruz home. Even at 100, Bernadine does not miss her daily walk. Her family explains the even though she does not recognise anybody and does not remmeber much, she makes it a point to remind people around her that she needs to go out every evening.
A few days before her 100th birthday, her family decided to celeberate it in grand style. They booked tables at Willingdon Gymkhana and simultaneously sent a request to the superstar, asking if he would like to send her a birthday greeting.
A day later,the family was pleasantly suprised to hear from Bachchan's secretary, who told them that the star would like to attend her birthday. "Initially, he wanted to come and wish grandma in person. But later his secreatry called to say that if he came, he would be the centre of attraction and not my grandma. We were very touched. Eventually, his secretary told us he would send a personal video greeting," added Pinto.
Around 10 am on Saturday, someone from Bachchan's ofice knocked on D'souza's house to deliver the DVD.
On Sunday, over 100 relatives and close friends gathered at Willingdon Gymkhana and played the videomessage.In it , Bachchan said,"Hello Mrs Bernadine D'souza, I am Amitabh Bachchan. I have come here on a very special day to wish you a very happy birthday. You are going to be 100 years old. This is fantastic. I wish you all the good health, all the love and affection from me." The star also advised D'souza to listen to her doctors.
"May you live for another 100 years. Listen to your family, have food on time, do what your doctors ask you to do. This will give me a lot of joy and pleasure. Thank you for remembering me today."
Mesmerised, Bernadine clung on to the superstar's every word and spent the rest of the four-hour party telling every one how Amitabh Bachchan had wished her.
So tweet
Bachchan later tweeted about Bernadine
Bernadine D'Souza a fan who turns 100 years on 18th !!!! Wished her on video .. suffers Alzheimers .. only name she remembers .. AB
So touched and moved by that request from her family. She does not eat her food unless they tell her that AB is coming.. !!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Santacruz-grandma-gets-100th-birthday-surprise-from-Big-B/articleshow/21909402.cms?
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