Dear Braveheart

Summary

Imagine being lost, then found, then lost again. Imagine being giddy in love with a man who is slipping away from you bit by bit. This is the heartbreak that I endured. This is the story of my journey as a caregiver and the route I chose to get my husband and me safely to the end.

Research shows that more than half a million Canadians have Alzheimer‘s disease or related dementia. Those suffering from it lose their memory and ability to think properly. What was more frightening, for me, was the profound changes to Tony‘s mood and behaviour. As Alzheimer‘s disease heaped indignity after indignity upon him, I struggled to maintain my equilibrium. My natural optimism took a pounding. I was often crushed, often weepy. Sometimes I gathered my dog and my car keys and was ready to bolt.

If you are a caregiver, you will see yourself in this book. If you have just learned that your partner, parent or other loved one has Alzheimer‘s disease, you will find insight and hope.