Branching Out: From Dreams to Reality

Conquering the War Within

Cuban Colossus of Olympus in a Century

Dogs, Cats, and Me

ED: My Shadow, Not My Friend

My head is pounding, my stomach pulsing. My throat is burning, my pulse is racing. Nothing about me feels okay, and if someone were to look deep into my eyes like they were searching for something, they'd know. ED has taken so much from me, yet I cannot seem to stop giving him the power to continue. I can't stand the screaming. I want it to go away, but late at night when the voice finally stops, I feel so alone. I hate the loneliness. It amuses me when people tell me that I stay in situations with people so that I am not lonely. It isn't the loneliness of people that scares me. It is the loneliness of being rid of the voice in my head that makes me scared. For some reason, with certain people in my life, ED has more room to roam in the shadows of my mind.

Escape from the White Ghetto

For This I am Grateful

I remember going home to an empty house to try to digest my doctor's news, "You have vascular dementia." I thought to myself, I'm only 55 and I'm already a widow, the worst thing that could ever happen to me. But during my career working in Dementia Care, my co-workers and I had always felt that getting any type of dementia diagnosis would be the worst news a person could receive. Having witnessed the progression in so many people, I knew being a widow was nothing compared to what I was going to have to face. I soon discovered those past experiences would, in fact, help me forge through the coming losses.The diagnosis itself was not the worst of it, finding no help or resources was. I had to try to figure out 'what's next' on my own. I got my affairs in order, and came to terms with the fact that my career and the life I had known both were gone. I gave up my home, my car, my ability to drive, my hopes, and my dreams. Yet a stubborn streak remained in me. I decided, 'I'm not done yet,' and made it my new motto. Then I set out to find help, to find my new self. My search led me to Dementia Alliance International. At DAI, I found hope and purpose; this was life-changing and life-saving. I stepped onto a path of a whole new understanding of dementia, advocating, speaking engagements, and learning that life can be beautiful, even with dementia.

Goodbye to a State

Holy Water in my Scotch

If you are looking for hope in the midst of life on life's terms today, this is the book for you. You will identify…no matter your gender, age, culture or stage of life, as Suzanne deals with her life with grace and gratitude. You will enjoy her treasured love story… Sue and Jim, and their mission together. You will be inspired by the hardships she describes overcoming and the faith that led her through these ordeals. You will laugh and cry as she faces every crisis armed with her mother's magical gift--her faith in the power of blessed holy water--does it work??? Please read and decide for yourself. Either way, be prepared to find HOPE!

Looking Down to See What's Up

Mirror

For younger children, the book Mirror captures the beautiful, magical moment that is the discovery of self, self in all its splendid wonder. For the older child, Mirror promotes the ever-elusive but all-important self-acceptance, the kind that leads to genuine self-esteem. And for parents, Mirror reflects the love for their child, a love that is pure and unconditional.

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