'When dementia hits a family', Chris says, 'they embark on an emotional journey. Destination unknown. As I see it, dementia is a disorder of the brain swimming in a sea of emotion. I've brought this out in the book. It's very much about relationships, what happened to my parents as a couple, me as their daughter.'
Early readers have been highly enthusiastic. 'Superb. I loved the book. I think it will be very helpful to carers', was the verdict of dementia trainer Chris Elsley. Sian Livsey said: 'A wonderful book, beautifully written and a brilliant insight into so many facets of human life and how to cope with things. I have learnt so much about dementia.'
The memoir is in two parts and has a comprehensive Resources section. In Part One Chris tells the dramatic family story depicting dementia not as a tragedy but as a phase of life lived by both sufferers and carers. Laughter as well as tears as the disease plays out day-to-day. One highly original chapter includes 'Ten scenes of joy and sadness' written as mini-dramas to illustrate how emotions can remain intact as dementia takes its course.
Part Two is more reflective, a chance to stand back and ask questions such as: why did we not see all this coming? The final chapter 'Learning from dementia: losses and (a few) gains' gives a lay person's experience of dementia in rich detail.
'But Then Something Happened: A Story of Everyday Dementia' (Golden Books, ISBN: 9780957307902) is available in both paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon and can be ordered from bookshops. To download a sample chapter, go to: www.goldenbooks.co.uk
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For further information contact Chris Carling on 01223 367271 or chriscarling@chriscoach.com
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