I was so thrilled to see a collection of experiences from other people, similar to mine. My Dad suffered from Alzheimers and I felt like a freak for having reflected on the illness with a smile. For me, this horrific disease showed me a man that I never knew growing up. All of his barriers were broken down and I got to know, not only who my Dad was, but who I was. I have such a joy from knowing this that it is hard for me to be bitter about that which stole my father, for at the same time, it allowed me to know the father I never knew before.

It is stories like this that the author has compiled here. Many humorous, many touching, all showing a connection where many think none could be found. Yes, there is a time when the people we know and love so dearly are robbed from us by this devastating disease, but through the process there are many joyous times to be had.

Read this book and you'll understand

I'm an older (born 12/12/1952) Internet user, so--in spite of all of those reassuring, little, gold padlocks shown at the bottom of ordering pages at online stores--I still wasn't ready to put my main credit card or checking account information out in Cyberspace. So, I came up with a doable solution, creating an account for just this very purpose.

If purchasing this book wasn't actually my FIRST venture into the unfamiliar territory of online shopping (and I'm almost 100% sure that it was), it came pretty close.

Venturing out into this unfamiliar territory has had more positives than negatives for me--but there's that unfamiliar territory that is among the worst nightmares of both patients and caregivers: dealing with Alzheimer's Disease.

I had been reading the online letters that Debbie Center had been writing to a mother who would never again have the comprehension to read them--so, these letters were more for Debbie than her mother. And more for helping others who might read those letters to cope should something like this happen in their families.

One day, in an IM conversation, Debbie shared her sadness with me that her mother was rapidly going downhill, and she felt helpless to stop it from happening--yet, she also had the great news that she would have a part in this book.

And that's the thread running through this book: the moments of joy found within the Alzheimer's experience.

The people who have contributed to this book are people who mourn the slipping away of those people--generally, parents and spouses--who were once so vibrant and alert.

Yet, these same people have learned to find joy and comfort in some of the simple things of life, such as unexpected smiles, words, and laughter from their loved ones.

In one case, a family--who had gotten out of contact due to distance and schedules--began a tradition of having annual family reunions due to wanting to get everybody together while the matriarch of the family could still recognize and enjoy them.

Open this book and share the lives of those in this difficult and unfamiliar territory--and share those special moments of joy that make it all worthwhile!!!

Finding The Joy In Alzheimer's: Caregivers Share The Joyful Times by Brenda Avadian is a comforting, spiritually healing book filled with touches of wry humor and a serious understanding of the difficulties of Alzheimer's, and how important it is to find and treasure wondrous moments when caring for someone afflicted with this debilitating neurological disease. Finding The Joy In Alzheimer's is not intended to be a source of advice about the legal, physical, or medical difficulties of Alzheimer's disease; rather it was written to bolster the souls and spirits of those charged with caregiving responsibilities for loved ones suffering from the ravages of Alzheimers. As such, it emphatically succeeds in its mission and intention.

Since my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I have bought every book I could find about the subject. After devouring each book myself, I pass it along to my mother and siblings to read. I enjoyed because it gives a truthful and heart-felt account of one woman's situation with her father's Alzheimer's, and shows how the disease not only affects her relationship with her father but also her relationships with her siblings, husband, friends and even her clients. Praise to Avadian for writing about her experiences.

That being said (typed), I did not think this was the best account that I have read of the subject. Davidson's book describes the author's experience with her husband's Alzheimers, and is much better written. It gave a much more clear description of the slow decent into Alzheimers, and is a beautiful, almost lyrical book. By all means do buy but please consider reading Davidson's book first.

I first met Brenda when she came to our support group. I witnessed and assisted in her journey with her father as she did with me with my husband. Brenda's courage, compassion and humor are an intregal part of this book. Her experiences in this book will help other people realize they are not alone, and to really enjoy and learn from every little or big event in their loved one's journey through Alzheimer's.

A beautiful story told by a young successful career-woman who put her life on old for a father who has Alzheimer's. Like me, Brenda Avadian was in her thirties when her life was disrupted by having a parent diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In this beautifully written chronicle, Brenda shares that story and also includes a bibliography, helpful Web sites, and a very helpful list of "Ten Suggestions for Caregivers". Wonderful full-page photos of Brenda's father are included in this delightful book that should be on the reading list of every caregiver.