SEATTLE, WA ~ Don’t Walk Away, a Care Partner’s Journey, is the powerful and uplifting account of a mother and daughter navigating a life with dementia.
This book is filled with hope, joy and lessons learned. It is told as the mother, Jean, lives in moments, quickly forgotten but filled with laughter and discovery. Her daughter and author Marilyn joins her, as a partner, building the best possible life for them both.
All illustrated by Jean’s mesmerizing art.
For every caregiver at the beginning of their journey, who may feel only dread, unsure about what to do, what to expect, asking “now what?”, this book provides reassurance, ideas, and hope. (Continued below video…)
For those well into the journey, it offers recognition, respite, and laughter — and always hope — secure in the belief our loved ones are still here, valuable people able to live with joy and purpose, active and connected to their communities.
For the vast majority of people who think of Alzheimer’s only with sorrow, who can’t imagine a life with dementia as worth living, it offers a refreshingly different perspective and a much-needed bridge to understanding that persons living with dementia are valuable people, needing and worthy of our support to thrive and live with happiness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marilyn Raichle grew up in the shadow of Alzheimer’s. Nearly everyone in Dad’s family and many in Mom’s developed the disease. Mom warned us. “Keep your distance. Your father and I will be in a safe place; there is nothing more you can do, so walk away.” I believed her… until Mom began to paint.
Everything changed. Her fascinating paintings opened my eyes, ears, heart, and soul to a woman who definitely had something to say. So much to say–an appreciation of beauty, an enduring sense of humor and whimsy, more than a little mischief, and occasionally sadness and grief. All I had to do was to look and listen.
I joined her in real time where there are no worries, no regrets, no deadlines, no hurry — just the moment, clear, precious, and lived as it comes – where everything is, to use Mom’s words, “just delightful.” My visits with Mom stopped being dutiful, becoming for me essential—a source of joy and a path of personal discovery. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.
You can visit Jeane’s blog at www.dontwalkaway.net.
