Our Dementia Journey and Beyond is a non fiction love story from the journals of a caregiver, Mary Jo, about her husband's journey with dementia and her pain, grief, and loss on this journey. Her husband, Jack, had Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's dementia.
Forward - Reverend Katie Guertin-Anderson, Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator for Puget Sound Hospice
The book is Mary Jo's heart and soul on the page: she has offered up a devasting, beautiful, and brave window into her and Jack's lives and experiences together as he lived and died with dementia. Her personal diary entries are vulnerable and courageous, and she graciously invites us into her pain and loss as a spouse and caregiver. Her stories display resilience, faith, and hope; and her devotion and steadfast commitment to helping Jack preserve as much independence, dignity, and choice as possible is admirable. This book is, at it's heart, the truth of a deep and abiding love, and it has been a great privilege to witness Mary Jo continuing to live with strength and joy, to serve God with humility, and to offer her story in order to help better equip others who find themselves on the same difficult path.