In 2012, Carolyn Birrell flew down to Georgia to kidnap her mother. Fay had been living by herself since her husband's death in 2000 and clung fiercely to her independence. She went to church on Sundays, paid her bills on time, and volunteered at Vacation Bible School every summer. But at 79 years old, she'd begun showing escalating signs of early-stage dementia, each one making it harder for her daughter to discount as simple signs of aging. After receiving calls from Fay's local sheriff and the Department of ...
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In 2012, Carolyn Birrell flew down to Georgia to kidnap her mother. Fay had been living by herself since her husband's death in 2000 and clung fiercely to her independence. She went to church on Sundays, paid her bills on time, and volunteered at Vacation Bible School every summer. But at 79 years old, she'd begun showing escalating signs of early-stage dementia, each one making it harder for her daughter to discount as simple signs of aging. After receiving calls from Fay's local sheriff and the Department of Family Services, Carolyn took action. She quickly came to understand the meaning of the adage, "When we make plans the Universe laughs," because hers required endless do-overs as she struggled to keep pace with her mother's ever-progressing disease. This is the story of Carolyn's mother, her dementia, and how they navigated her journey together. Your loved one may not force feed stuffed animals vanilla pudding or burn their neighbor's mail like Fay did, but if you're living through the sad realities of your loved one's slow and tortuous farewell, this book will help you find solace as you deal with it realistically and with a heart at peace. -- A brave and honest glimpse into a journey of dementia, with acknowledgement of lessons learned from one human being providing care for another. - Teepa Snow, Founder of A Positive Approach to Care(R) Somehow, Carolyn has managed to take the heartbreaking topic of dementia and turn it into a helpful, uplifting book that not only leaves the reader feeling more "normal," but also encourages them to continue down the harrowing path they're on. I couldn't put this one down. - Dr. Marty Becker, "America's Veterinarian," Author of 23 books (three New York Times bestsellers) and nationally syndicated columnist "Carolyn's vividly told story about caring for her mother through the stages of dementia shows us we're not alone in our frustration, exhaustion, love, fear, and regret. Her book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as caregiving often is. Especially helpful is the Afterword, which distills years of hard-won lessons into real-life examples of how to better respond to the everyday situations that often cause conflict." - Connie Chow, Founder at DailyCaring.com A masterpiece in the human condition. Carolyn's ability to articulate the full spectrum of human emotion and frailty was thoroughly moving. Her transparency transported me into her life and pain in a way that is unforgettable. I highly recommend this gem of a book for anyone and plan to use it as a resource for my clients." - Cynthia Citron, MBA, LMHC, BCN, Owner, Reboot: Personal Breakthroughs Using Brain Science "This deeply touching memoir offers a wealth of insight and practical tips for anyone dealing with a loved one's dementia. Carolyn's candid recounting of her journey with her mother injects humor into the heartbreak, adding a vital tool to every caregiver's coping toolbox - permission to admit their conflicting feelings without guilt. A must-read for everyone, even those not currently on this difficult path." -- Willow Feller, Author of Piety, Pride and a Cosy of Cures
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Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $5.68, good condition, Sold by Seattle Goodwill rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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May have some shelf-wear due to normal use. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $5.72, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill of Colorado rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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Fair. This item is in overall acceptable condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have heavy wear including creases, bends, edge wear, curled corners or minor tears as well as stickers or sticker-residue. Pages are intact but may have minor curls, bends or moderate to considerable highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have heavy wear. A well-read copy overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $5.76, good condition, Sold by Goodwill of Colorado rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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This item is in overall good condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have minor wear including slight curls or bends to corners as well as cosmetic blemishes including stickers. Pages are intact but may have minor highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have slight wear overall. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. Minor shelf wear overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $6.00, very good condition, Sold by Academic Book Solutions rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Medford, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $11.55, very good condition, Sold by Patty Klein, Hilltop Book Shop rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Marshfield, WI, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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Very Good. Size: 5x0x8; Paperback in very good condition. Light edge wear to covers and a few pages. Clean pages free of writing, marks or tears. Binding is secure. No spine creases. Our feedback says it all! Feel confident when you order from Hilltop Book Shop.
Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $11.95, fair condition, Sold by Gardner's Used Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tulsa, OK, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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Fair. Acceptable condition. Minor edgewear and some dog-eared pages. Sporadic underlining. Tulsa's best used bookstore. Located on South Mingo Road since 1991. No-hassle return policy if not completely satisfied.
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Add this copy of Walking With Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path Into to cart. $18.62, new condition, Sold by Big River Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Powder Springs, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Atmosphere Press.
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I took care of my mother the last two years of her life, and though it wasn't easy, it was a cakewalk compared to what Carolyn dealt with for eight years. I laughed and cried reading about the slippery slope she and her amazing friends traversed over that time period. With the great list of resources in the back, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone who is dealing with dementia within their family, or in the healthcare industry. All good medicine!
Lynn P
Mar 7, 2022
Keeping your sanity when loved one has dementia
This book reads like a novel, but it is more compelling knowing that it is a true tail of how the author navigated her mom's dementia. It's disheartening when carefully reasoned plans - especially those intended to benefit someone else - are upended, and that happened consistently during this time in the author's life. Carolyn makes no pretense that it was easy to bounce back each time, yet she did, and I found that reassuring. The book is full of down-to-earth strategies for helping your loved one and yourself.
There is another lesson in this book that I am still processing. It has to do with how the author kindled the best in people. I think it might come naturally to Carolyn, but I hope that it is also a skill that can be learned. We need an antidote to bringing out the worst in people which seems way too easy to do!
