I have to admit I can not imagine by any means how you felt back then and how you feel today. But you described something I am experiencing with my parents at present time. Mom, 87, got out of surgery a few weeks ago, she broke her leg and due to the surgery anesthesia her alzheimer's condition got really worse. We, our three brothers and father visit her every day at the recovery hospital she is staying for the moment, we are by her side all the hours visitors can be around and you can see day by day her condition is getting worse, losing memory, not finding the words to describe what she is intending to tell you and feeling sad several times while you are there with her. The doctors say she will not be able to walk again due to her mental condition, she needs assistance for almost everything while she could do just about everything before surgery. All my brothers realize of the situation, but my dad acts as she just needs to exercise to reinforce her leg and will be able to walk again and come back home.
The situation is not easy, mom will have to leave this recovery hospital in 15 days and we have to decide if taking her to a nursing home or to the family house with my father which is what she keeps asking for and what my dad also wants expecting everything will come back to "normality".
We will see how everything evolves, but at this time, all we can do is try to comfort both, mom and dad and be by their side as much as we can which is several hours a day.

PS. Both photos look great but I really love the second one of both of your girls wearing a similar dress.