Alzheimer's Surgery: An Intimate Portrait - Paperback

Alzheimer's is one of the world's most frustrating conditions, deceptively destructive, maddeningly complex, and one that outsiders rarely see. In relating the history of an ordinary family side-tracked by it, the author presents a literal textbook of myriad emotions, fears, and joy, confusion, sadness and humor, failure and triumph; as well as delving into Alzheimer's elusive medical and physical symptoms that mystify everyone. She brackets her poignant story with startling Alzheimer's statistics; warning signs of the disease; and a checklist of what needs to be done at the first suspicion of the illness. After ten years of caring for her husband, the author opines that any caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient must be able to labor like Hercules, have the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the lightness of a butterfly, the hide of a rhino, take the punishment of a marathoner, be as gentle as soap bubbles, remain forever vigilant, constantly alert, never sleep, dismiss one's own needs, eliminate everything and everyone else, and have faith that the sun will shine again. Other than that, she assures, there's not much to it.