Author Connie Ruben wrote this nonfictional story out of a
wish to share to others who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease, and what
she endured as her mother-in-law Grace’s caretaker and companion. She indicates
that her story is not a handbook for those dealing with Alzheimer’s but rather
a demonstration that those who wrestle with the journey the disease incites are
not alone. Before the main text, Ruben thanks Grace’s caregivers and coauthor
Kate O’Neill, who started as a ghostwriter, not to mention her husband. The
introduction opens with Ruben seeking Grace in the halls of a clinic, having
arrived late for her mother-in-law’s appointment, and brings to light how
Alzheimer’s patients tend to not recognize even their own loved ones.
Each of the main chapters describes a different
characteristic of those who deal with loved ones having Alzheimer’s, beginning
with grace, which Ruben defines before the initial chapter’s primary text. She
further indicates how hindsight promises to explain the revelation of life, how
insight comes with both experience and practice, how adaptability helps one
survive, how negotiation involves balance, how weakness can feel ominous, how
the path to acceptance can involve suffering, and how those with Alzheimer’s
tend to be difficult to entertain. She concludes by acknowledging that she
needs to take her time when dealing with Grace, which one can say about most
dealing with relatives having Alzheimer’s, and the result is an insightful
story that gives good insight into what people with the condition endure, not
to mention their relations.
Connie Ruben is an entrepreneur with well developed management skills. She has run several large companies, and prides herself on empowering others to work to their full potential. Connie also has an intimate knowledge of the challenges and joys of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease, as her mother-in-law Grace was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s disease in 2003. While Connie still struggles to balance her work life and home life, her understanding of this disease has made it easier for her to negotiate the demands of being a caregiver, as well as a wife, mother, and employer. She has written this book in order to share the insights she has gained as Grace’s primary caregiver and friend. Most importantly, Connie wants this book to assure others that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be enjoyable, life-affirming, and emotionally significant.