Our Long Goodbye Afrikaans edition

It is with great love, respect and affection, along with a beautiful life that I write these words. These heart-felt experiences that prompted me to chronicle the ordeal is what I want to share with the reader. This book is but a very small window of my soul; so much more in the depths of my heart will not and cannot be shared with anyone. I have attempted to be truthful and honest in expressing what to me was and is important to know when caring for a spouse with a fatal illness. Of all maladies, the loss of one's mental faculties is the saddest of all. With Alzheimers, despite opinions, we really are not sure how much one can comprehend. This is a reminder to all caregivers medical and family to always speak to the patient directly. On so many occasions they would discuss his condition (not always positive) as if he wasn't there. I too, may have been guilty of doing the same thing. It is beyond the scope of human understanding how a respectable useful person can be reduced to such a level. Still, I felt many times that he was somehow helping me with decisions and I still feel he is with me urging me on; yet without verbalization. Through faith in him and in God, we somehow managed. Our journey was unique for us and yours will be also. Yet underneath it all there is a common thread; that component in humans is what unites us, that makes us feel another's pain. As I write these words, I feel that his message to me is " go ahead, live your life as God indended" To the reader: Take courage The sun will rise tomorrow