Table of Contents
Introduction Angela Timashenka Geiger xi
1 Accepting a New Reality
1 My Mom the Fighter Pilot Doris Leddy 1
2 Join the journey Ginny Dubose 4
3 The Little Woman Jill Burns 7
4 Drama Come to Life Mary Margaret Mann 10
5 Me and the Night Don't Get Along Joey McIntyre 13
6 The Lady in the Mirror Molly Godby 15
7 Black Eyebrows Maria Montagna Bohlman 18
8 Slipping Away Sue Young 22
9 Good Times with Mom Bern Nadette Stanis 23
2 What Does It Feel Like?
10 Remember Me Cynthia A. Guzman 29
11 What My Alzheimer's Diagnosis Has Taught Me Kris Bahowski 32
12 Coping with Alzheimer's Lou A. Bordisso 36
13 Socializing Amidst Mental Chaos Lois Bennett 38
14 What Alzheimer's Disease Feels Like Dr. Stephen Hume 41
15 Living Well with Alzheimer's Carmen Cruz 44
16 It's a Wonderful Life and Alzheimer's Michael R. Belleville 46
17 He Led the Way Ann Mane Skerl 48
3 Strategies and Tips for Coping
18 The ABC's of Alzheimer's and Dementia for Caregivers Kristen Cusato 55
19 How I Learned to Lie Johanna Richardson 58
20 The Clock with One Hand Fred Kinsinger 62
21 Mom and Her Foot Soldiers Sioux Roslawski 65
22 Living Without Math Nancy Stearns Bercaw 68
23 Managing with Mom Denise Marks 71
24 I Yelled at You Today Pat Tomlinson 75
25 Fear and Self-Pity Are My Mortal Enemies Laura Suihkonen Jones 78
26 Sharing the Journey Samantha Ducloux Waltz 81
27 Where the Truth Lies Elizabeth Parker Garcia 85
28 It's Sunday the 23rd Jeri McBryde 89
4 Next Steps and Tough Choices
29 A Survival Guide for Alzheimer's Caregivers James C. Magruder 95
30 We Are a Family Carolyn Mers 101
31 Yes, But 1 Still Know Him Patty Gunnett 103
32 One Moment at a Time Linda O'Connell 105
33 The Next New Step Jennifer Harrington 108
34 Shopping for Nursing Homes Jean Ferratier 111
35 No Matter What Wendy Poole 113
36 Songs of Remembrance Jim Solomon 117
5 Taking the Journey with Your Parent
37 Feeding Squirrels with Dad Rhonda Renders 123
38 My Mother's Eyes Theresa Hettinger 127
39 Rewind Kala Cota 129
40 A Good Conversation Nancy Hamilton Sturm 131
41 In Your Winter Kitchen Jennifer L. Freed 133
42 The Hand that Feeds Carrie Jackson 134
43 Always a Mother Kelle Z. Riley 137
44 Love Is the Answer Nancy King Barnes 140
45 Learning Acceptance Ann Napoletan 143
6 Younger-Onset Alzheimer's
46 The Hardest Day Karen M. Henley 149
47 The Promises We Make Dr. David Davis 153
48 Finding Dad Paul Hyckie 156
49 Life on 24th Street Susie Van Den Ameele 159
50 Bring Him to Me Susan Young 161
51 Runaway Words Rose M. Grant 163
52 The Journey Begins Sandy Morris 166
53 On the Road with Alzheimer's Kitty Kennedy 168
7 In Sickness and In Health
54 Life Interrupted Sherry Sharp 173
55 Lessons in the Art of Love Deborah Shouse 177
56 Living in the Moment Sue Watkins 179
57 The Talk Bruce Michael Williams 182
58 Snowflakes and Sunshine Sara Spaulding 185
59 Joy Through Tears Mary Margaret Lehmann 187
60 I'll Never Know, Richard Weinman 190
61 My Mother's Kitchen Susan DeWitt Wilder 193
62 While He Still Remembers Susan Hanna Frook 195
63 The Power of What Is Samantha Ducloux Waltz 198
8 The Lighter Side
64 Talking Potato Linda Rose Etter 205
65 The Soft Side of Alzheimer's Tamera Leland 207
66 The Bird Jean Salisbury Campbell 209
67 Laughter Through the Tears Hank Mattimore 213
68 French Toast Joy Johnston 215
69 Comic Relief Rosemary Barkes 217
70 Armchair Shopper Crescent LoMonaco 220
71 The Bear Lisa R. Richardson 223
72 A Mother's Help Cheryl Edwards-Cannon 225
9 New Ways to Make Connections
73 Dancing Words John White 231
74 A Bright Spot in Darkness Linda Veath Cox 233
75 My Ticket to Happiness Amy L. Sayers 236
76 The Man in My Mother's Room Robert S. Nussbaum 238
77 Herbert Dale Adams O'Neill 240
78 I Can't Help Falling in Love with You Laurie Rueter Schultz 243
79 Hidden Talents Marjorie Hilkert 245
80 Music Therapy Kristina Aste-Mayer 247
81 Holding On to Dad Through Alzheimer's Julie Staffen 249
82 The Pianist Martha Deeringer 253
10 It Takes a Village
83 We're All Family Here Louise Harris Berlin 259
84 My Valentine Angle Carrillo 263
85 Still Sancho Cindy Legorreta 265
86 TGIF Kristi Cocchiarella FitzGerald 268
87 A Plate of Cookies W. Bond 271
88 Unsung Heroes Tracy Crump 273
89 Those Damn Rings! Madison Thomas 277
90 Remembering the Best Part Amanda Dodson 281
91 When Research Becomes a Passion Joanne L. Lord 285
11 The Special Bond with Grandchildren
92 Understanding Nana Sarah Rafferty 291
93 Out to Lunch Jennie Ivey 295
94 Joy in an Unexpected Friendship Julie Hornok 299
95 The Struggle for His Sanity Amy Merrill 301
96 Still My Grammy K. Thorp 304
97 Pretty Little Heaven Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer 307
98 All You Need Is Love Evangeline Neve 310
99 Fade to Black Jennifer Waggener 312
100 A Beautiful Tragedy Danny Carpenter 314
101 No Longer a Thief Amy L. Stout 317
Afterword Amy Newmark 321
Meet Our Contributors 325
Meet Our Authors 342
Thank You 344
About the Alzheimer's Association 346
About Chicken Soup for the Soul 349
