“Hello, caller. You’re on the air with Lisa Burton. What can we do for you today?”
“I don’t think I’ve met you, Lisa, this is Patrick Quinn, can you please put my daughter, Colleen, on the phone?”
“Sorry, Patrick I think you’ve got the wrong number. I’m actually a radio talk-show host, Lisa the robot girl.”
“Robot girl? What can I do for you?”
“Well, Patrick, you called me and I’m glad you did. Now that we’re on the air, what would you like to talk about?”
“If I had my druthers, I’d like to talk about and to Connie. She’s my wife. She died a few years ago. Let me tell you about her … did you say your name is Laura?”
“Close, it’s Lisa.”
“Let me tell you, Lisa, that wife of mine was a firecracker, she sure kept me on my toes but a few years ago now, she got her wish to die in her sleep. Let me tell you, that’s a wish that I’m sorry came true.”
“I’m sorry about your wife’s passing, Patrick.”
“Me too, and you see, it used to be that I felt I could communicate with her, you know, even though she’s in whatever and wherever the afterlife has to offer, but I don’t seem to be able to reach her anymore.”
“You’re saying you can’t talk to her anymore? I’m sure she’s still there somewhere, Patrick, I bet she still hears you.”
“Well, that’s good to know, thanks for saying so. Just wish I could hear her. Ya’ see, it seems my brain isn’t exactly tuned in to her anymore. Colleen, did I tell you she’s my daughter? She understands all about that, she’s a darn good caregiver for her old man as well. The last thing I ever wanted was to be a burden to her, she deserves to have a life of her own, ya’ know.”
“Wait a minute, your daughter’s your caregiver, does this mean you’re not feeling well?”
“Nice of you to ask, Miss Laura, um Miss Lisa? Anyway, other than my prostate that’s acting up something fierce, I’m feeling fine, I just can’t remember things as well as I used to because of a dementia thing I’ve got. The Doc says it’s Alzheimer’s plus something else, I can’t remember the something else…well, I guess it’s no surprise I can’t remember. So when Colleen and I met with the Doc, now he’s a real smart guy, let me tell you, he’s a brain doctor so he’s gotta be…um, what was I saying?”
“You and your daughter met with a smart doctor.”
“Right, so the Doc, he says there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s so Colleen and I knew right away that wasn’t good news at all, which, let me tell you, didn’t sit at all well with either of us. I said to the doctor, I said, “Look Doc, there must be a pill or two I can take, isn’t there?” Then I said, “They’ve got a pill that can give a man a four-hour erection, can’t they give me a pill that’ll take care of my withered brain?” Get it, withered?”
“Um, yeah, that’s kind of funny.”
“I thought so too, but the doctor didn’t laugh, I guess he was supposed to be serious and all, but I thought the erection comment would lighten the mood.––”
“Give me that Dad, who are you talking to? Hello, who is this?”
“I’m Lisa Burton, the robot girl. I was just having a pleasant conversation with Patrick. Who are you?”
“I’m his son, Jonathan, I have to apologize about my dad, he’s not exactly right in the head…”
“I don’t know, he made total sense to me.”
“He’s got Alzheimer’s so that would be a first, him making sense. It’s pretty difficult for everyone, I mean …”
“Well, Jonathan, I would imagine it must be more difficult for your wonderful, father, wouldn’t you say?”
“I know, you’re right, it’s just that Colleen, she’s my sister who I hope will be back soon from a support group meeting she attends, she’s the one who is more involved with him so I’m not used to when he asks the same question over and over again. And the other day, he was at my wife’s and my house for dinner, and even though my wife told him what type of soup we were eating several times, it was squash soup, he kept forgetting. It was pretty embarrassing, I know that sounds harsh, but I’m just being honest.
“Oh, and the other day, Dad walked to a restaurant near his house to meet up with some Korean war buddies of his and he got lost and he forgot to put his house keys in his pocket. Colleen had put a Contact list of people in his wallet, you know, her and me, so the police were able to get in touch with someone who had keys to help him get home. We thought he was still able to live on his own without getting into trouble but Colleen and I are going to have to figure something out, and soon.”
“Jonathan, do you ever attend the support meetings?”
“I don’t really need that kind of crutch, and besides, anything I need to learn about my dad’s disease I can find on the internet.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
“I only go to websites I know are professional so I get all the correct information.”
“What I meant was, how’s that working for you, not getting support from people going through the same thing as you are? Maybe hearing how others handle stuff related to their loved one’s illness would be good for you. Sometimes the textbook answers aren’t as good as the real-life ones. Maybe the medical journals don’t adequately address the person inside the diseased body, how they feel, what they need from a personal perspective. I don’t know, I guess what I’m saying is it couldn’t hurt, right?”
“I’ll think about it…just a sec, my dad’s saying something.”
“Jonathan, what happened to that nice lady who called me. Did you find out what she wanted?”
“Dad, I’m just saying goodbye now. Sorry, Lisa, I have to go, and, uh, thanks for listening.”
“How about it, listeners. Have any of you ever had to care for a family member or friend with dementia? My author, Craig lost a grandparent to this horrible disease, and while he wasn’t the caregiver, it was hard on his entire family.
“You can learn more about Patrick, Colleen, and Jonathan in the novel, Requiem for the Status Quo, by Irene Frances Olson. I’ll post all the purchase links and other pertinents on the website.
“For Lisa Burton Radio, I’m Lisa Burton. Please use those sharing buttons to help Irene spread the word. The book is available today for the first time, so I’m honored to be part of Irene’s and Patrick’s release day events.”
***
Family caregivers are oftentimes ruthlessly challenged by uninvolved family members who are quick to condemn, but reticent to offer assistance. Such is the case for Colleen Strand, a widow who recently found her own footing who takes on the task of caring for her father, Patrick Quinn, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Her older brother, Jonathan, criticizes Colleen at every turn and verbally abuses the father when he has the gall to exhibit symptoms of his disease. In short, Jonathan travels down the road of denial, leaving Colleen to deal with all matters regarding their father’s care.
Connected tenuously to a father who barely remembers her and a brother who has become an enigma, Colleen faces the moving target that is Alzheimer’s disease, determined to clothe her father with the dignity he deserves, while struggling to squeeze every minute of time she can from him.
Purchase Links:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Black Rose Writing Books-A-Million Indiebound
Irene Frances Olson writes from passion and experience. She was her father’s caregiver during his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Having previously worked in memory care, she was not new to the disease, nor was her family immune. Irene hopes to make a difference in the lives of others by writing novels that encourage and support those who just might need another person in their corner.
***
You can also find Irene on the following social media sites:
Twitter: @Boomer98053
Facebook: @RedmondWriter
Instagram: irenefrancesolson
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thank you so much for the reblog, jenanita01. I sincerely appreciate it.
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This story was a little close to home for me, as I’m only a hairs breadth away from the same condition (so they tell me) probably be enlightening for some people though…
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It runs in my family too, so I hope they’re making strides in managing it. Thanks for sharing the post.
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The pervasiveness of this disease guarantees some mixed feelings about books centered on it. I totally understand your comment and only hope there will be an escape hatch for those living on the precipice.
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I have always found solace in books, and now I write them too, even more escapism going on!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you.
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Danke.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Seems to really capture what I’ve heard in regards to Alzheimer’s. While not the same, this reminds me of my grandmother after her stroke. We would get phone calls like this at all hours of the day. Finally stopped when my parents hired a home living assistant.
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My grandmother went through Alzheimer’s. My grandfather, her husband, had an aneurism at the same time. Same effect as a stroke. We hired a live in nurse and it helped for a while.
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The live-in system went until the end. Mostly because there was no way to get her out of the condo. Whenever my grandmother was out of her house, she’d get very confused. Even if she was at our place and especially at night. Ended up being better to let her stay in a familiar setting.
I really do wonder if anyone in my family has had Alzheimer’s. Never really came up.
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Mine had to go to assisted living eventually. It’s one of the saddest disorders we know of.
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I keep wondering if they’ll ever find a cure for it. I see articles pop up about possibilities, but the brain is so complicated. Guess even a little hope is better than none.
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That’s one of the things the neural dust implants hold some promise for. Even improvement is improvement.
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I have to look that up again at some point. Sounds familiar, but I forgot the details.
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Seems like I found it for an Idea Mill post, then I used it in Enhanced League, of course.
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That’s it. Reminds me, I need to write up that review on Amazon. Finally got the laptop working right.
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I appreciate it. You’ve gone through hell with laptops over the last couple of years.
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Tell me about it. I couldn’t use the desktop because I didn’t want to write a review under the wrong account.
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I love my iPad pro with the smart keyboard. I never had anything go wrong with one of my iPads. The first one was eventually superceded by a level of iOS it couldn’t handle. Nothing ever went wrong with it, it just exceeded its lifespan. I still have the second one and use it when I need multiple documents open at once. I only placed it aside when the Pro came out. I also use it for Pandora while I’m blogging and such. You might explore the idea the next time you replace something.
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Honestly, I’ve never gotten used to writing a book on an iPad. Part of me likes the big screen for some reason. I’ve noticed that I work faster and better on a screen that shows me more of what I’m doing. Small screens make me feel creatively claustrophobic if that makes any sense.
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It does make sense. Our tools are highly personal to us. Look at how many posts there are about just the right notepad or pen.
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Good point. I get a lot of heat here for being particular about my notebooks and pencils. Not to mention needing privacy and other quirks. People act like I’m just being a pain for the sake of it, but one of the first steps to writing is getting comfortable.
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No argument here. I’m the same way. I also get the prima donna comments, but I require certain things to do this.
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A favorite is ‘authors are such babies’ around here. How am I not supposed to take offense at that?
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The first time I heard that one, I dropped my pacifier.
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Well, I hope they were nice enough to pick it up for you.
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With 44 million, as of this writing, living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, it is indeed a most horrific matter in the lives of so many.
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That’s a bigger number than I expected, but it doesn’t surprise me too much. Dementia is connected to a lot of other ailments and conditions. Human brain is rather fragile if you think about it.
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Yes, Charles, the brain is grand central station when it comes to how our bodies function and our lives unfurl. And BTW, thank you for the reblog onto your site!
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You’re welcome. I’ve seen Alzheimer’s get mentioned a lot on my social media sites. Hope some people see the post and take a look.
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Me too, Charles. Lisa Robot’s way of tackling the issue is a real plus, to be sure. Have a good day.
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It was a unique way of bringing the subject up. Enjoy your day too.
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Too many loved ones have suffered through this. It’s horrific. Hopefully this helps shed some light on the disease. Best wishes.
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Believe it or not, my hope is that my novel “normalizes” the disease so that we stop whispering about it and stop talking about it behind closed doors. It’s a reality, a cruel reality, and the more attention given, the better off we’ll all be.
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That’s a good goal. There are a lot of people like your brother character out there.
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What a great introduction to this book. Caregiving on any level isn’t easy, but Alzheimer’s has to be the most difficult. Lisa handled herself well, as always.
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It really is, and it starts off so small and almost funny to a degree. Then it builds like a horror movie until the end. I hope she draws a ton of interest today.
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Lisa certainly did do a good job, didn’t she? She honored Patrick instead of making fun of him. We’re all human, it’s just that some of us have an underlying condition that is more obvious than others.
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Thanks, Irene.
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I like the way this interview was presented.It’s so hard being a caretaker, especially to a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Best wishes to Irene, and let’s pray medical science finds a cure for this dreadful disease.
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Thanks so much for your observations and encouragement, Mae. I would die a happy woman if, before I take my last breath, Breaking News announces both a vaccine against it and a cure.
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Reblogged this on Jan Hawke INKorporated and commented:
This struck a major chord with me today as my mum’s still in transition over settling into a residential care community. She’s nearly there and feels happier and safer now, so we’re feeling better about her situation.
Kudos to you, Iren,e for tackling dementia care for the elderly in a realistic and supportive way – and to you Lisa and Craig for shining a light on this important topic today.
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Jan Hawke, thank you for the reblog, and thank you for your encouragement to keep on getting the word out, in creative ways, just as Lisa/Craig did with this interview.
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It really is an important issue. Sorry to hear about your mother, but it’s likely a very good move.
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It’s already improved her general condition, although she still has her off days – but then she’s getting old ,so something has to give! It’s definitely the right mover & has given all of us peace of mind. 🙂
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Good to hear.
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Best wishes for your book, Irene – it spotlights a tragic disease, one my grandfather passed away from.
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Thank you, Teri, for your good wishes. Your experience is one that millions have replicated, and will continue to replicate. I’m so sorry about your grandfather.
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That’s so tragic. I’ve been there and understand.
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Important topic, as seen through the varying viewpoints of the family. The family characters definitely seem like real people. I put this in my Amazon wishlist for someday.
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Thank you, joey. It is an important topic and one that I hope changes as cures are found. Glad my novel is in your Amazon wishlist!
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Very cool, thank you.
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Reblogged this on mallie1025 and commented:
Something you don’t want to miss reading
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Thanks for sharing, Micki.
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Excellent post!! My beloved Mom-in-law is 101 and has dementia. So sad to not be able to remember 101 years of mostly wonderful memories. I dread the day when she won’t remember me. Many people don’t realize that people with dementia from many causes know on some level that they have it. My Mom-in-law takes pains to cover it up and pretend she knows what one is saying to her. What breaks my heart is when she forgets who/where she is for a time and I see fear and panic in her face, People have so little patience with people like her and I think that’s horrible since so many are diagnosed every day. One day it might be them–but they won’t remember being cruel to others with it. My mom-in-law lives in the moment and won’t remember my calls or what we talked about but that’s okay for both of us–for now. And I can still make her laugh out loud.
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Micki, thank you for sharing the interview and for providing your personal story. One thing I know for sure, your mom-in-law benefits from your time with her. One of the characters in REQUIEM knows her father-in-law doesn’t recognize her but she concludes that a visit from a friendly person who loves him is a blessing. You are benefiting her time on this ear, big-time.
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I know and I am also benefiting myself by interacting with her enough to keep her memory of me alive. She has always been there for me.
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I think that shows a lot of character.
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I’ve been through days like that with my elders. I even went to visit my grandmother after she stopped talking all together. Spent an hour telling her about her loved ones with no idea how much she gleaned from it.
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That, my friend, is an act of kindness and love. Just think, if we’re ever in similar situations, we’ll want people to respect us for who we are for a lifetime, not just for our current status of being.
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Wonderful post, Craig. Horrible disease and the caregivers are amazing people. The support group idea is a must.
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Thanks, John. It’s touched a lot of people, and Irene is correct; we don’t always want to acknowledge it.
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True.
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John, support from others – in support groups and elsewhere – is a strong theme through my novel. Thank you for your input.
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Rightfully so. We have been there and got the shirt. Thanks. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio.
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Thanks for sharing this one.
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You’re welcome.
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Thank you, Don, for re-blogging this post. The more people who become aware, the better, to be sure.
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You’re welcome.
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I can’t think of scarier diseases. To lose your identity–
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It occurred to me that the progression of Alzheimer’s could be copied into the plot of many horror novels. It starts out kind of funny, maybe a more serious error happens, ultimately it’s completely devastating.
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I’m not sure if readers would by sympathetic to the character. I tried to write a Bipolar one but got a stiff reception from critique readers once upon a time. Maybe it will get to the point where we can do that though in the future.
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We can hope.
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You are so very correct in that assessment, unfortunately.
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I have Bipolar and some years back had a breakdown. I was so afraid that I’d never get “me” back. It’s taken a lot of hard work but there is hope.
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Althugh difficult to read, this was very well done. Thank you both!
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Yes, unfortunately, it’s far too real. Thank you, Jill, for reading and responding.
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Well done, Lisa, you handled this call and interview very well. Alzheimer’s and other chronic disorders are very hard on both the sufferer and the family. I terrific sounding book.
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It’s an important topic too. Glad you liked the show.
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Lisa is a terrific radio host, to be sure. I’m glad the interview intrigued you. I hope you’ll add Requiem to your reading wish list. Thanks so much for your interest, robbiesinspiration.
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