By Tracie Bevers
In the early days of the disease, when I heard stories of
others in later stages, I actually thought… "Well, I know that will never
happen." Little did I know what the future held; I was very naïve. Many
times along the way, I would remember something a friend had shared with me two
or three years prior, and reality would settle in. We were there; those things
were happening. It was hard, no doubt, but at least I knew others had been down
this road.
As we journeyed through Alzheimer's with Mom and Dad, I regularly
took notes, sent emails to our kids, took pictures…that sort of thing.
Somewhere along the way, I decided that one day I could write a book with all
the notes I was taking. I had become passionate about sharing the story and
encouraging others, and I wanted to share our journey with people who needed to
hear about it.
My reasons for telling the story are:2.) To make it clear to those who don’t understand what Alz is…it is a cruel disease of the brain affecting 5.7 million Americans. According to the Alzheimer's Association, that number could rise to 14 million by 2050.
3.) To share a sweet story of two people who loved each other to the end. Their journey made it possible for others to witness a true, one-of-a kind love story and raised the bar for many.
It's not an easy story to tell, but the truth is –
Alzheimer's is not easy. If I didn't tell the real story, even the parts that
make us uncomfortable, then I'm not sure any of my three goals would be
accomplished. I have struggled…hoping others don't think I shared too many
intimate details, but mostly praying that Mom and Dad would approve. Now, I
know that if they could hear the stories about how their journey is helping
others, they would be pleased.
Following are excerpts from some comments
received:
"Sharing the most intimate of details, the book gently
wraps its hands around your heart and guides you down a path of love and loss
that will provide you perspective and lessons you can apply while navigating
the dark and turbulent waters of Alzheimer's. Bevers allows us into her
compassionate and emotional world so we may emerge strengthened with greater
understanding."
"Wonderfully written, I found it both inspiring and
frightening since I now realize that our own experience is only at the halfway
point in the book. A lot lies ahead but this helped me prepare for it. Thank
you for sharing such a personal journey."
"I could feel each beautiful moment and the emotion of
every heart-wrenching decision. What a truly remarkable treasure this will be
for many facing uncertain times."
"I am beginning the journey you just left and reading
this book has changed how I approach it. I have a better understanding of what
my mom is going through and I will hopefully be a better son to her because of
it."
The unexpected gift that came from writing the book was that
it was a healing experience for me…it was the right thing to do for Mom and
Dad, for others, and for me.
About the Author
Tracie Bevers lives in the Houston area and is known as
"Honey" to her six grandchildren. She loves writing, reading, cooking
(AND eating out!), traveling (AND spending time at home!)...but mostly she
loves spending time with family and friends. She has known her husband since
she was 14 years old, and they have been happily married for almost 39 years.
Tracie spent well over a decade journeying through the world
of Alzheimer's after her parents were diagnosed. She learned a lot...mostly
about real, true love...a precious gift that she now realizes she may have
missed had she not been on the Alz journey with them. Along the way, she became
passionate about sharing information with others just beginning their own long
journey to goodbye.
Connect with Tracie Bevers
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