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One of my goals for this year is to read more books. Little did I know how much easier this would become with social distancing! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two books I recently read that I believe will interest my readers.
This book caught my eye because the key characters of this true story live in my state of North Dakota. Here we meet the DeMoes, a family plagued by early onset Alzheimer’s disease over several generations. The author does an excellent job of exploring how this inherited condition haunts their lives.
Throughout the book, we’re introduced to many extended members of the family. We witness the devotion of family members as they care for the people they love and their commitment to taking part in research to help other families.
We feel their fears and struggles as the family makes tough decisions. Do I want to know if I carry the gene? Should I get married or have children? Would it be better to place my loved one in a nursing home?
The author also shares extensive information about the science of Alzheimer’s disease and the history of the search for a cure. Even though I’m a nurse with many years of experience working with people living with dementia, I learned a lot from this book.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
My daughter, who is a physical therapist, recommended that I read this book, and I’m so glad I did. It shares the personal musings of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a 43-year-old Frenchman who experienced locked-in syndrome.
What is locked-in syndrome? A rare outcome of a massive stroke, locked-in syndrome results in the loss of control of most of a person’s voluntary muscles. In the majority of cases, the individual retains some movement of their eyes. The person remains fully aware of their surroundings, and they feel sensations and emotions.
What I found most amazing about this book is how the author wrote it. Mr. Bauby dictated his story one letter at a time by blinking his left eye. The process made me stop and consider what I might choose to communicate to the world through such a complex technique.
During my nursing career, I’ve worked with two people diagnosed with locked-in syndrome. This book gave me a much better understanding of what my patients may have experienced. It also shows how our actions as caregivers affect the patient—especially when we say things while assuming they can’t hear or understand us.
What book do you recommend I read next? Please let me know in the comment section.
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