Author: Kate Washington
Publisher: Beacon Press
ISBN: 0807011754
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
The story of one woman’s struggle to care for her seriously ill husband—and a revealing look at the role unpaid family caregivers play in a society that fails to provide them with structural support. Already Toast shows how all-consuming caregiving can be, how difficult it is to find support, and how the social and literary narratives that have long locked women into providing emotional labor also keep them in unpaid caregiving roles. When Kate Washington and her husband, Brad, learned that he had cancer, they were a young couple: professionals with ascending careers, parents to two small children. Brad’s diagnosis stripped those identities away: he became a patient and she his caregiver. Brad’s cancer quickly turned aggressive, necessitating a stem-cell transplant that triggered a massive infection, robbing him of his eyesight and nearly of his life. Kate acted as his full-time aide to keep him alive, coordinating his treatments, making doctors’ appointments, calling insurance companies, filling dozens of prescriptions, cleaning commodes, administering IV drugs. She became so burned out that, when she took an online quiz on caregiver self-care, her result cheerily declared: “You’re already toast!” Through it all, she felt profoundly alone, but, as she later learned, she was in fact one of millions: an invisible army of family caregivers working every day in America, their unpaid labor keeping our troubled healthcare system afloat. Because our culture both romanticizes and erases the realities of care work, few caregivers have shared their stories publicly. As the baby-boom generation ages, the number of family caregivers will continue to grow. Readable, relatable, timely, and often raw, Already Toast—with its clear call for paying and supporting family caregivers—is a crucial intervention in that conversation, bringing together personal experience with deep research to give voice to those tasked with the overlooked, vital work of caring for the seriously ill.
Already Toast
Author: Kate Washington
Publisher: Beacon Press
ISBN: 0807011754
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
The story of one woman’s struggle to care for her seriously ill husband—and a revealing look at the role unpaid family caregivers play in a society that fails to provide them with structural support. Already Toast shows how all-consuming caregiving can be, how difficult it is to find support, and how the social and literary narratives that have long locked women into providing emotional labor also keep them in unpaid caregiving roles. When Kate Washington and her husband, Brad, learned that he had cancer, they were a young couple: professionals with ascending careers, parents to two small children. Brad’s diagnosis stripped those identities away: he became a patient and she his caregiver. Brad’s cancer quickly turned aggressive, necessitating a stem-cell transplant that triggered a massive infection, robbing him of his eyesight and nearly of his life. Kate acted as his full-time aide to keep him alive, coordinating his treatments, making doctors’ appointments, calling insurance companies, filling dozens of prescriptions, cleaning commodes, administering IV drugs. She became so burned out that, when she took an online quiz on caregiver self-care, her result cheerily declared: “You’re already toast!” Through it all, she felt profoundly alone, but, as she later learned, she was in fact one of millions: an invisible army of family caregivers working every day in America, their unpaid labor keeping our troubled healthcare system afloat. Because our culture both romanticizes and erases the realities of care work, few caregivers have shared their stories publicly. As the baby-boom generation ages, the number of family caregivers will continue to grow. Readable, relatable, timely, and often raw, Already Toast—with its clear call for paying and supporting family caregivers—is a crucial intervention in that conversation, bringing together personal experience with deep research to give voice to those tasked with the overlooked, vital work of caring for the seriously ill.
Publisher: Beacon Press
ISBN: 0807011754
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
The story of one woman’s struggle to care for her seriously ill husband—and a revealing look at the role unpaid family caregivers play in a society that fails to provide them with structural support. Already Toast shows how all-consuming caregiving can be, how difficult it is to find support, and how the social and literary narratives that have long locked women into providing emotional labor also keep them in unpaid caregiving roles. When Kate Washington and her husband, Brad, learned that he had cancer, they were a young couple: professionals with ascending careers, parents to two small children. Brad’s diagnosis stripped those identities away: he became a patient and she his caregiver. Brad’s cancer quickly turned aggressive, necessitating a stem-cell transplant that triggered a massive infection, robbing him of his eyesight and nearly of his life. Kate acted as his full-time aide to keep him alive, coordinating his treatments, making doctors’ appointments, calling insurance companies, filling dozens of prescriptions, cleaning commodes, administering IV drugs. She became so burned out that, when she took an online quiz on caregiver self-care, her result cheerily declared: “You’re already toast!” Through it all, she felt profoundly alone, but, as she later learned, she was in fact one of millions: an invisible army of family caregivers working every day in America, their unpaid labor keeping our troubled healthcare system afloat. Because our culture both romanticizes and erases the realities of care work, few caregivers have shared their stories publicly. As the baby-boom generation ages, the number of family caregivers will continue to grow. Readable, relatable, timely, and often raw, Already Toast—with its clear call for paying and supporting family caregivers—is a crucial intervention in that conversation, bringing together personal experience with deep research to give voice to those tasked with the overlooked, vital work of caring for the seriously ill.
In Sickness as in Health
Author: Barbara Kivowitz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781937359133
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Something's happened now what do we do? What do I do? What do I really owe my loved one? And how can I even ask such a question? Having exchanged marriage vows or even if they haven't most people expect their partners to support them when a devastating diagnosis is made or an accident occurs.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781937359133
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Something's happened now what do we do? What do I do? What do I really owe my loved one? And how can I even ask such a question? Having exchanged marriage vows or even if they haven't most people expect their partners to support them when a devastating diagnosis is made or an accident occurs.
Hope When It Hurts
Author: Sarah Walton
Publisher: The Good Book Company
ISBN: 1784980749
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 220
Book Description
Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Hurt is real. But so is hope. Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism about the hurts of life-yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life. This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering-whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer. It is a book to buy for yourself, or to buy for a member of your church or friend. For anyone who is hurting, this book will give hope, not just for life beyond the suffering, but for life in the suffering. Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.
Publisher: The Good Book Company
ISBN: 1784980749
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 220
Book Description
Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Hurt is real. But so is hope. Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism about the hurts of life-yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life. This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering-whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer. It is a book to buy for yourself, or to buy for a member of your church or friend. For anyone who is hurting, this book will give hope, not just for life beyond the suffering, but for life in the suffering. Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.
A Husband, a Wife, & an Illness
Author: William July
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595447260
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 143
Book Description
We were living the American dream. But when the illness invaded our lives, it tore those dreams apart and we were thrust into a fight for our survival. In the devastation, we lost our home, our savings, our cars, and even our dogs. We lost everything but each other. But we are surviving, and thriving, although it sometimes feels as though we are in a mental, physical, and spiritual battle with an invisible opponent. In this uniquely written book, we both tell our own story. But related in a personal tone that moves seamlessly from the emotions of a spouse to motivating coach, this book does more than share a story, each chapter presents practical tips on living a life beyond illness, for both the care giving spouse and the spouse-patient. If you and your spouse are facing chronic illness, especially a severe chronic illness, you will instantly relate to the chapters in this book. You will understand the odd sense of humor we have about things, and you'll feel us when we cry in the darkest moments. For more information and support, visit CouplesFacingIllness.com. This book is also available in audio (visit website for ordering information).
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0595447260
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 143
Book Description
We were living the American dream. But when the illness invaded our lives, it tore those dreams apart and we were thrust into a fight for our survival. In the devastation, we lost our home, our savings, our cars, and even our dogs. We lost everything but each other. But we are surviving, and thriving, although it sometimes feels as though we are in a mental, physical, and spiritual battle with an invisible opponent. In this uniquely written book, we both tell our own story. But related in a personal tone that moves seamlessly from the emotions of a spouse to motivating coach, this book does more than share a story, each chapter presents practical tips on living a life beyond illness, for both the care giving spouse and the spouse-patient. If you and your spouse are facing chronic illness, especially a severe chronic illness, you will instantly relate to the chapters in this book. You will understand the odd sense of humor we have about things, and you'll feel us when we cry in the darkest moments. For more information and support, visit CouplesFacingIllness.com. This book is also available in audio (visit website for ordering information).
Caring for Your Wife in Sickness and in Health
Author: Richard H. Dominguez
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780929239682
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 230
Book Description
Bestselling devotional author Chambers offers a magnificent treasury of priceless devotions on prayer. For the first time ever, all of Chambers' inspiring devotions on prayer are offered to his millions of devoted Christian readers in a single, uplifting volume. An absolute must for every Christian who hungers for a more intimate and personal relationship with God.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780929239682
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 230
Book Description
Bestselling devotional author Chambers offers a magnificent treasury of priceless devotions on prayer. For the first time ever, all of Chambers' inspiring devotions on prayer are offered to his millions of devoted Christian readers in a single, uplifting volume. An absolute must for every Christian who hungers for a more intimate and personal relationship with God.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales
Author: Oliver Sacks
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0684853949
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
Explores neurological disorders and their effects upon the minds and lives of those affected with an entertaining voice.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0684853949
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
Explores neurological disorders and their effects upon the minds and lives of those affected with an entertaining voice.
My Lovely Wife
Author: Mark Lukach
Publisher: Bluebird
ISBN: 9781509805969
Category : Husband and wife
Languages : en
Pages : 320
Book Description
Mark and Giulia's life together began as a storybook romance. They fell in love at eighteen, married at twenty-four, and were living their dream life in San Francisco. When Giulia was twenty-seven, she suffered a terrifying and unexpected psychotic break that landed her in the psych ward for nearly a month. One day she was vibrant and well-adjusted; the next she was delusional and suicidal, convinced that she was the devil and that her loved ones were not safe. All she wanted was to die. Eventually, Giulia fully recovered, and the couple had a son. But, soon after Jonas was born, Giulia had another breakdown, and then a third a few years after that. pushed to the edge of the abyss, everything the couple had once taken for granted was upended. A story of the fragility of the mind, and the tenacity of the human spirit, My Lovely Wife is, above all, a love story that raises profound questions: How do we care for the people we love? What and who do we live for? Breathtaking in its candor, radiant with compassion, and written with dazzling lyricism, Lukach's is an intensely personal odyssey through the harrowing years of his wife's mental illness, anchored by an abiding devotion to family that will affirm readers' faith in the power of love.
Publisher: Bluebird
ISBN: 9781509805969
Category : Husband and wife
Languages : en
Pages : 320
Book Description
Mark and Giulia's life together began as a storybook romance. They fell in love at eighteen, married at twenty-four, and were living their dream life in San Francisco. When Giulia was twenty-seven, she suffered a terrifying and unexpected psychotic break that landed her in the psych ward for nearly a month. One day she was vibrant and well-adjusted; the next she was delusional and suicidal, convinced that she was the devil and that her loved ones were not safe. All she wanted was to die. Eventually, Giulia fully recovered, and the couple had a son. But, soon after Jonas was born, Giulia had another breakdown, and then a third a few years after that. pushed to the edge of the abyss, everything the couple had once taken for granted was upended. A story of the fragility of the mind, and the tenacity of the human spirit, My Lovely Wife is, above all, a love story that raises profound questions: How do we care for the people we love? What and who do we live for? Breathtaking in its candor, radiant with compassion, and written with dazzling lyricism, Lukach's is an intensely personal odyssey through the harrowing years of his wife's mental illness, anchored by an abiding devotion to family that will affirm readers' faith in the power of love.
Breast Cancer Husband
Author: Marc Silver
Publisher: Rodale
ISBN: 1579548334
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
A guide for men whose wives contract breast cancer offers emotional support and advice every husband needs, including guidance from breast cancer doctors and the shared experiences of those who have gone through the same ordeal. Original. 30,000 first printing.
Publisher: Rodale
ISBN: 1579548334
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
A guide for men whose wives contract breast cancer offers emotional support and advice every husband needs, including guidance from breast cancer doctors and the shared experiences of those who have gone through the same ordeal. Original. 30,000 first printing.
In Love
Author: Amy Bloom
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0593243943
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A powerful memoir of a love that leads two people to find a courageous way to part—and a woman’s struggle to go forward in the face of loss—that “enriches the reader’s life with urgency and gratitude” (The Washington Post) “A pleasure to read . . . Rarely has a memoir about death been so full of life. . . . Bloom has a talent for mixing the prosaic and profound, the slapstick and the serious.”—USA Today ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR Amy Bloom began to notice changes in her husband, Brian: He retired early from a new job he loved; he withdrew from close friendships; he talked mostly about the past. Suddenly, it seemed there was a glass wall between them, and their long walks and talks stopped. Their world was altered forever when an MRI confirmed what they could no longer ignore: Brian had Alzheimer’s disease. Forced to confront the truth of the diagnosis and its impact on the future he had envisioned, Brian was determined to die on his feet, not live on his knees. Supporting each other in their last journey together, Brian and Amy made the unimaginably difficult and painful decision to go to Dignitas, an organization based in Switzerland that empowers a person to end their own life with dignity and peace. In this heartbreaking and surprising memoir, Bloom sheds light on a part of life we so often shy away from discussing—its ending. Written in Bloom’s captivating, insightful voice and with her trademark wit and candor, In Love is an unforgettable portrait of a beautiful marriage, and a boundary-defying love.
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0593243943
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A powerful memoir of a love that leads two people to find a courageous way to part—and a woman’s struggle to go forward in the face of loss—that “enriches the reader’s life with urgency and gratitude” (The Washington Post) “A pleasure to read . . . Rarely has a memoir about death been so full of life. . . . Bloom has a talent for mixing the prosaic and profound, the slapstick and the serious.”—USA Today ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR Amy Bloom began to notice changes in her husband, Brian: He retired early from a new job he loved; he withdrew from close friendships; he talked mostly about the past. Suddenly, it seemed there was a glass wall between them, and their long walks and talks stopped. Their world was altered forever when an MRI confirmed what they could no longer ignore: Brian had Alzheimer’s disease. Forced to confront the truth of the diagnosis and its impact on the future he had envisioned, Brian was determined to die on his feet, not live on his knees. Supporting each other in their last journey together, Brian and Amy made the unimaginably difficult and painful decision to go to Dignitas, an organization based in Switzerland that empowers a person to end their own life with dignity and peace. In this heartbreaking and surprising memoir, Bloom sheds light on a part of life we so often shy away from discussing—its ending. Written in Bloom’s captivating, insightful voice and with her trademark wit and candor, In Love is an unforgettable portrait of a beautiful marriage, and a boundary-defying love.
The Caregiving Wife's Handbook
Author: Diana B. Denholm
Publisher: Hunter House
ISBN: 9781630266622
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 168
Book Description
A month after proposing marriage, Diana Denholm''s husband was diagnosed with colon cancer and later congestive heart failure. Following a heart transplant several of her husband''s body systems began failing forcing Diana to become his primary caregiver for more than a decade. The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook is a step-by-step communication guide to help women maintain emotional, physical and financial health in their unique role as caregivers to their dying husbands. Women are suffering physical, emotional and financial burnout as the United States'' leading caregivers. Of the 65 million caregivers in the U.S., 66% are women, and these numbers will only increase as the population ages. And while statistics and resources abound for caregivers in general, very little exists for women in their unique role as caregivers to their dying husbands. Traditionally, caring for a dying husband has been seen as a "wifely duty." Most wives don''t label themselves, and aren''t labeled by others, as caregivers. But advances in medical technology are making this distinction an imperitive since women are under more stress as caregivers than at any other time in history. Although there are generic similarities in caretaking, caregiving for a dying husband is distinctly different, and the longer the dying process, the more complex the problems. When a husband is in the process of dying for many months or years the experience is quite different than a husband''s sudden death. On top of dealing with the tragedy, the wife must figure out how to make life work. Sometimes a woman is married to the love of her life and sometimes not. Some marriages strengthen, while others disintegrate. Some women are in abusive relationships and find the abuse continues, and even increases, during these times, while others find, much to their surprise, that they become the abusers. Still some will start or increase substance abuse and others will have affairs to get by. The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook aims to help women get through their husbands'' illness and death with compassion, emotionally whole and without regret by helping them communicate clearly--and in steps--about issues affecting this unique caregiving relationship. Without specific direction, many women find themselves over the top with stress as their lives change radically. As a board certified medical psychotherapist and primary caregiver, Diana Denholm recognized the need for a step-by-step process to help women communicate with their husbands to avoid irreparable damage and regret. In The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook, you will learn: To ask questions you may not realize you need to ask The issues that bother you and a method for categorizing them What you should and shouldn''t discuss with your husband How to make and prepare for a date to talk about difficult topics What to do if your husband won''t talk To create "understandings" with your husband How to deal with his family You will also learn survival tips from the case histories of Joyce, Fran, Tina, Jean, Susan, and Mary. Their experiences will help you: Choose roles you should take and those you should avoid Understand what is "normal" in what you''re experiencing and feeling Take care of yourself so you can survive and even have fun Implement do''s and avoid don''ts to make your life simpler Balance with greater ease Other topics addressed are: Sex life/intimacy Current and future finances Fatigue Sleep Household duties Job responsibilities Irresponsible behaviors Unrealistic expectations... The challenges of this time are endless and extreme and the reality often isn''t the beautiful and revered journey often portrayed. When a husband is dying of a long-term illness, the gift of time can allow us to prepare and say all the loving things we need to say, but it can also provide a lot of time for severe stressors and problems to develop. These problems and stressors can be debilitating for the caregiver and provide too many opportunities to say and do things we might regret. The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook will give you the tools and support needed to get through your husbands'' illness and death with compassion, emotionally whole and without regret. Let The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook support you amidst the grief--all the way through the Final Chapter.
Publisher: Hunter House
ISBN: 9781630266622
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 168
Book Description
A month after proposing marriage, Diana Denholm''s husband was diagnosed with colon cancer and later congestive heart failure. Following a heart transplant several of her husband''s body systems began failing forcing Diana to become his primary caregiver for more than a decade. The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook is a step-by-step communication guide to help women maintain emotional, physical and financial health in their unique role as caregivers to their dying husbands. Women are suffering physical, emotional and financial burnout as the United States'' leading caregivers. Of the 65 million caregivers in the U.S., 66% are women, and these numbers will only increase as the population ages. And while statistics and resources abound for caregivers in general, very little exists for women in their unique role as caregivers to their dying husbands. Traditionally, caring for a dying husband has been seen as a "wifely duty." Most wives don''t label themselves, and aren''t labeled by others, as caregivers. But advances in medical technology are making this distinction an imperitive since women are under more stress as caregivers than at any other time in history. Although there are generic similarities in caretaking, caregiving for a dying husband is distinctly different, and the longer the dying process, the more complex the problems. When a husband is in the process of dying for many months or years the experience is quite different than a husband''s sudden death. On top of dealing with the tragedy, the wife must figure out how to make life work. Sometimes a woman is married to the love of her life and sometimes not. Some marriages strengthen, while others disintegrate. Some women are in abusive relationships and find the abuse continues, and even increases, during these times, while others find, much to their surprise, that they become the abusers. Still some will start or increase substance abuse and others will have affairs to get by. The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook aims to help women get through their husbands'' illness and death with compassion, emotionally whole and without regret by helping them communicate clearly--and in steps--about issues affecting this unique caregiving relationship. Without specific direction, many women find themselves over the top with stress as their lives change radically. As a board certified medical psychotherapist and primary caregiver, Diana Denholm recognized the need for a step-by-step process to help women communicate with their husbands to avoid irreparable damage and regret. In The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook, you will learn: To ask questions you may not realize you need to ask The issues that bother you and a method for categorizing them What you should and shouldn''t discuss with your husband How to make and prepare for a date to talk about difficult topics What to do if your husband won''t talk To create "understandings" with your husband How to deal with his family You will also learn survival tips from the case histories of Joyce, Fran, Tina, Jean, Susan, and Mary. Their experiences will help you: Choose roles you should take and those you should avoid Understand what is "normal" in what you''re experiencing and feeling Take care of yourself so you can survive and even have fun Implement do''s and avoid don''ts to make your life simpler Balance with greater ease Other topics addressed are: Sex life/intimacy Current and future finances Fatigue Sleep Household duties Job responsibilities Irresponsible behaviors Unrealistic expectations... The challenges of this time are endless and extreme and the reality often isn''t the beautiful and revered journey often portrayed. When a husband is dying of a long-term illness, the gift of time can allow us to prepare and say all the loving things we need to say, but it can also provide a lot of time for severe stressors and problems to develop. These problems and stressors can be debilitating for the caregiver and provide too many opportunities to say and do things we might regret. The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook will give you the tools and support needed to get through your husbands'' illness and death with compassion, emotionally whole and without regret. Let The Caregiving Wife''s Handbook support you amidst the grief--all the way through the Final Chapter.