By Elaine Pereira
Publisher: JACE Woods Press
Published: Dec, 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-1936840762
Amazon Synopsis:
IT IS PAINFULLY
DIFFICULT to watch loved ones decline as dementia ravages their mind,
destroying memories, rational thinking, and judgment. In her touching memoir, I
Will Never Forget, Elaine Pereira shares the heartbreaking and humorous story
of her mother’s incredible journey through dementia.
Pereira begins with entertaining glimpses into her own childhood and feisty teenage years, demonstrating her mother’s strength of character. Years later, as Betty Ward started to exhibit bizarre behaviors and paranoia, Pereira was mystified by her mom’s amazing ability to mask the truth.
Not until a revealing incident over an innocuous drapery rod did Pereira recognize the extent of her mother’s Alzheimer’s. As their roles shifted and a new paradigm emerged, Pereira transformed into a caregiver, blindly navigating dementia’s unpredictable haze.
But before Betty’s passing, she orchestrated a stunning rally to control her own destiny via a masterful, Houdini-like escape.
I Will Never Forget is a powerful heartwarming story that helps others know that they are not alone in their journey. “Poignant, shocking, and honest … far more than just words on paper. If you or someone you know is living through the hell of dementia, you need this book!” –Ionia Martin, developer of Readful Things Reviews and Alzheimer’s caregiver.
Pereira begins with entertaining glimpses into her own childhood and feisty teenage years, demonstrating her mother’s strength of character. Years later, as Betty Ward started to exhibit bizarre behaviors and paranoia, Pereira was mystified by her mom’s amazing ability to mask the truth.
Not until a revealing incident over an innocuous drapery rod did Pereira recognize the extent of her mother’s Alzheimer’s. As their roles shifted and a new paradigm emerged, Pereira transformed into a caregiver, blindly navigating dementia’s unpredictable haze.
But before Betty’s passing, she orchestrated a stunning rally to control her own destiny via a masterful, Houdini-like escape.
I Will Never Forget is a powerful heartwarming story that helps others know that they are not alone in their journey. “Poignant, shocking, and honest … far more than just words on paper. If you or someone you know is living through the hell of dementia, you need this book!” –Ionia Martin, developer of Readful Things Reviews and Alzheimer’s caregiver.
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My Thoughts
This
was a poignant and sometimes painful story to read as Elaine spoke of the
changes that dementia brought to her mother's memory and emotional state. This
is not just a disease of the memory, for it robs the sufferer of the ability of
the meaning of words and how to use them even if they can read them. They can
become lost in time and stop recognizing their loved ones. This is a disease
that affects entire families.
Each
chapter was written with a portion from the author's growing up years and then
a corresponding related event from more recent times in the author's mother's
life. I loved the closeness and connection that the difficulties these two
women shared brought them. I can only hope to emulate that same patience with
my parent if I should be in such a situation.
I
Will Never Forget was an eye-opener in terms of really seeing what Alzheimer's
and dementia is really like. I had no idea that it came with all the temper
outbursts and wandering and confusion. As the author says, "it is death by
inches".
This
book is a must read for anyone with a parent who is experiencing the symptoms
of dementia. I would highly recommend it. I gave this book 5 stars out of 5.
Thank
you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and
honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
About the Author:
Elaine C. Pereira is a licensed
Occupational Therapist who worked with special needs children as well as adult
rehab and home care. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in OT from Wayne State
University and later completed her Master's. Pereira felt both compelled and inspired to share her mother's story in part to help others know they are not alone in their journey through Dementia. In her words: "My mother's is a story that needed to be told. She was a kind, brilliant and talented person all of her life until Alzheimer's took hold leaving an agitated, bewildered and compromised woman in its wake. I was NOT the easy kid to raise, that would have been my brother. But after a decade of great personal sacrifice and unspeakable losses, Mom started her descent into dementia. I stepped up as she slid down, grateful to give back to the woman who once gave so much!"
Pereira donates a portion of every book sold to Alzheimer's research "in part so that my daughter's don't have to write a book about me one day." She also has completed courses as a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Caregiver, CDP. CDC.
Elaine and her husband Joseph live in southeastern Michigan with their cat, Snoopy, and two big dogs, Bailey and Maddee. Together they have five adult children, Joe's three sons and Elaine's twin daughters, and five young grandchildren.
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