My Roller Coaster Ride with Sallie
An Alzheimer's Story
by
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While she was still physically with us, she was not the mother I knew before Alzheimer’s. For me, my mother had been gone a long time. I lost my mother when I could not talk with her and share my life with her. I had grieved her loss and yet she was not gone. There is a term for that type of grief—anticipatory grief. I knew I would miss Sallie when she was gone, but I already missed my mother.
I visited, loved, and cared for a nice, old lady who did not know who I was. Sometimes she would say she did not know me, ask who I was, or tell me she had never seen me before. I would tell her my name was Judy and that I was her new visitor. I never tried to convince her that I was her daughter. She did not remember.
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About the Book
Judy’s mother Sallie suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years. Judy wrote this book to share her experiences as Sallie’s caregiver in an effort to help others cope with a loved one’s Alzheimer’s and to help them enjoy the ride.
Excerpt from the book: " “While she was still physically with us, she was not the mother I knew before Alzheimer’s....I had grieved her loss and yet she was not gone....I knew I would miss Sallie when she was gone, but I already missed my mother. I visited, loved, and cared for a nice, old lady who did not know who I was. Sometimes she would say she did not know me, ask who I was, or tell me she had never seen me before. I would tell her my name was Judy and that I was her new visitor. I never tried to convince her that I was her daughter. She did not remember.”About the Author
A native North Carolinian, Judy J. Harritan lives with her husband Don in Whiteville in Southeastern North Carolina. She is the mother of two sons and has a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Judy retired from a career in banking. In addition to spending time with her family, her hobbies include youth baseball, crafts, and participation in craft festivals. Judy also is an active community volunteer.
Judy’s mother Sallie suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years. Judy wrote this book to share her experiences as Sallie’s caregiver in an effort to help others cope with a loved one’s Alzheimer’s and to help them enjoy the ride.