I am deeply inspired by how Sally Callahan expresses what it's like to help a loved one with Alzheimer's. Reading My Mother's Voice, I learned a tremendous amount about Alzheimer's, and more than that, I learned how something so frightening and often devastating did not ultimately deprive Sally of hope, common sense and love.

Ms. Callahan not only explains a subject with authority but shares her experience with genuine skill and an open heart. Her expertise and vulnerability create a very moving book.

What I particularly admire is how honest she is about her frustrations. Frustrations with the institutional problems and misunderstandings she experienced with regards to her mother's illness and care. However, she does this without making other people wrong, especially health care professionals involved in the care of her mother. Callahan's book blends civility towards others and fierce advocacy for her mother. She shows how the stress of being confronted with Alzheimer's can be honestly expressed even while maintaining a willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to those trying to help. Her stories are examples of conflict resolution from which family members, nurses and physicians can learn. My Mother's Voice doesn't tell me what to do, it shows me. It's not just about coping with Alzheimer's. It's also about the spiritual fabric of family remaining strong under difficult circumstances. The inspiration Sally Callahan communicates in My Mother's Voice is hard won and true. I hope many have a chance to read her book.

My Mother's Voice is written by the daughter of Rita "Puppy" Callahan, a woman who courageously lived and died with Alzheimer's disease. It tells an intensely personal story of a family struggling to do what is right when it seemed that everyone's definition of "right" was different. As her mother's appointed Health Care Proxy, it was Sally Callahan's responsibility to make the difficult life and death decisions and to be her mother's voice when her mother could no longer speak. It's a position that thousand's of people find themselves in daily and it's an awesome responsibility. Callahan was fortunate that her mother had made her wishes known clearly when she was mentally and physically well. It's difficult to speak for someone when such difficult ethical issues have never even been discussed with the patient. Sally knew what her mother wanted, so why was it so difficult to see that her mother's wishes were honored? The question of whether or not to withhold treatment of a terminally ill patient is a moral one and most everyone has strong opinions on the subject, from close and distant family members to the doctors and nurses empowered to carry out those wishes. The potential for resistance is everywhere and Sally had to battle relentlessly for her mother's right to refuse treatment. In reading My Mother's Voice, it's apparent to the reader that having a large family support system can either make the experience of Alzheimer's easier to bear or it can make things far more difficult. Callahan's family almost didn't survive the ordeal intact. Sally Callahan tells her family's story eloquently, taking us on the Alzheimer's journey with her right from page one. We feel the intenseness of her love and respect for her mother and the grief she feels building every step of the way. By the time we read of Puppy Callahan's death, we feel a combination of grief and relief ourselves. Callahan's book is not only a personal journal, however. It's full of useful information about Alzheimer's disease and what a family needs to know in order to survive the experience. Though she has a strong focus on quality of life issues and the ethical side of caregiving, Callahan includes important information about legal and financial matters, community support services and alternative living arrangements. She includes a wealth of information on how to choose a nursing home that will provide not just housing and medical treatment, but socialization and loving care. Chapter eight offers advice on how to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the caregiver, something Callahan admits she neglected in herself. My Mother's Voice is an important addition to the library of anyone who knows someone with Alzheimer's disease. It will not only touch your heart, you'll keep going back to it as a valuable reference at different stages of the disease. If you are a primary caregiver of an Alzheimer's patient, give yourself a gift. Buy My Mother's Voice.

August 22, 2000

This book is a necessity for any caregiver of an Alzheimer's patient, whether it be professional or family member. The author covers almost everything you would need to know about in coping with this disease.

The American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease writes: "Callahan's chapter on Quality of Life (Chapter 3) includes no-holds-barred sections on dignity, respect, disrespect, manners, comfort, independence versus safety and death, euthanasia and suicide....Chapters are woven with the best new information and theories from the most highly regarded experts in the field."

I would highly recommend this incredibly informative and insightful book as a must have for family caregivers, a teaching aid for professionals, and as a resource for all.

On My Own: The Ultimate How-To Guide For Young Adults by Sally Taylor is such a comprehensive youth reference on "how to make it in the world." I wish such a book had existed when I launched out on my own. With the challenges facing today's young adults, the book and CD reference can make a real difference in the lives of its readers. Parents would do well by leaving this one on the coffee table!

Sally Taylor has captured the life lessons all parents wish to impart to their children and wraps it all up in a creatively delivered message. A complete guide that is amazingly insightful and easy to use. The CD ROM makes this guide an informative and entertaining tool for all learning types. When I first sat down at my computer to review the book, 4 hours magically disappeared as I found myself carried away by Sally's version of the Information Highway. A must read for all young adults--and many of their parents, too!

Sally Taylor has captured the life lessons all parents wish to impart to their children and wraps it all up in a creatively delivered message. A complete guide that is amazingly insightful and easy to use. The CD ROM makes the guide an informative and entertaining tool for all learning styles. When I first sat down at my computer to review the book, 4 hours magically disappeared as I found myself carried away by Sally's version of the Information Highway. A must read for all young adults--and many of their parents, too!

Sally Goes to the Mountains is a book I would give as a gift to any dog lover from 4 to 94. It's colorful illustrations, charming and witty captions, subject matter and size makes it the perfect coffee table book. I'll cherish mine forever. I can't wait for the next "Sally" book and plan to visit the huneck.com website to choose a special framed print from this very special book.

In Sally Goes To The Mountains, author/illustrator Stephen Huneck draws upon his award-winning expertise to take young readers on a romp with a fun-loving black Labrador named Sally. Sally goes for a ride to the mountains where she encounters bears, moose, rabbits, and skunks! There are berries to pick, sticks to fetch, and a lake to swim in. Huneck's bright, superbly crafted woodcut prints perfectly capture the joy of a dog's outing in the mountains for young readers. Also highly recommended is the earlier volume of Sally's adventures, Sally Goes To The Beach (0810941864, [price]).

I bought this book for my mom as a present. She already owns the other "Sally" books and loved this one too. The illustrations are beautiful and very whitty. My favorite is the giant moose with Sally. The Sally books aren't just for Lab owners or children--any pet lover will enjoy them.

Never have I read a book and cried and smiled like I did with this book. I know the author and yet there was so much I learned about her. Her writing draws beautiful images for you and you can see, feel, and experience all that she endures in this beautiful book. The sudden and unexpected loss of her partner, Paul the day before she was to swim the English Channel with him by her side, makes us think of how quickly life can be cut short. This book is full of emotions that makes our heart ache and tears fill our eyes. She is so sincere and open with her emotions that you feel as though you are peeking into a journal, yet, it is her heart that you are truly reading. I gave it to a few of my friends to read and they agree that this is a very special book, one that you wish could keep going and going. Never have I read anything about the art of swimming so beautifully written in such amazing detail before this book. When you are done with the book, you know that you have truly read something that you will not soon forget.

Browsing through the library stacks one day, the title of this book caught my eye. I love swimming and grabbed it, hoping to find an interesting story about what it's like to train for swimming the English Channel. I found that, plus so much more. I was blown away by the depth of this couple's devotion and love as well as the terrible, awful unfairness of a life cut short. Through this love story, Sally Friedman shows the world how love and marriage is supposed to work. I read this book on a plane and felt embarrassed when I just couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I plan to buy several copies of this book to give as gifts for friends. Sally Friedman, I don't know if you ever read these reviews, but if you do, I want you to know I am so sorry for your loss. Your book has touched me like few others. I wish Oprah would pick THIS book for her book club so that a large audience could read and react to this book together.

I originally came across this book while looking for information on swimming the English Channel. What I got was a book that I will never forget. It is hard to imagine someone loving another person as much as this woman loved her husband, and the way she intertwines the story of his loss with her quest to swim the Channel is truly a great accomplishment. Read it- it'll make you appreciate life in a whole new way.

Catherine Meyer's book really hit home. There were tears as I read every page. The tragedy of Mrs. Meyer's children and her relationship is becoming more and more evident in our society. All parents and childcare workers should read this book. I too, live in this terrible situation with Mrs. Meyer and can feel her pain. It has been four years and we see little or no results. Prayer has been the only answer to this. My heart goes out to all children, mothers, fathers, and

grandparents who are alienated from each other. Blessings to all of you.

If this horrible thing can happen to Catherine Meyer with little hope for resolution, think of how many others out there who are not as visible but are experiencing the same nightmare. The whole thing is tragic and wrong!

As soon as I finished reading this book, I knew that I had to include it as part of my library for reference. I found some familiar phrases, thoughts and ideas within the covers. I am also a left behind parent. My daughter was unlawfully abducted from the United States to Austria in 1995. I think it is important to communicate the harsh reality of International Parental Child Abuction and the responses of various countries involved in this matter. I thought that the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction was explained clearly in the book. It is most noteworthy to be made aware that there are countries which demonstrate a pattern of non-compliance to its obligations of the Hague Convention. I applaud Catherine Meyer and the publisher for bringing awareness to this tragic problem that affects thousands of children and parents worldwide.

This book has been a guiding light when the confusion of losing my dad unexpectedly had my mother and me not knowing what our next step and several steps following should be. I am forever grateful for my Aunt purchasing this book for my mother. It has given her and me financial direction and a peace of mind that we are now on the right track to mother's financial security where Dad is no longer there to provide it. After reading this book, I contacted co-author Barry Corkern. After working with him personally for 6 months now, I can say wholeheartedly, Mr. Corkern lives what he preaches in this book. He believes it to be true and helpful, and I have found it to be so. I buy it for all my friends who lose loved ones and my parishoners who are facing death.

I gave this book to a friend of mine who lost her husband after 31 years of marriage. She never had to worry about simple or complex decisions as he handled everything. He treated her and everyone he knew as queens and kings doing everything and anything for them. She was at a total loss in so many ways. She couldn't thank me enough for this "life saver" at a time when many emotions and financial transactions needed attention. It became her "bible" and she has recommended it to her "Surviving Without A Spouse" support group.

My dad died unexpectedly some years ago, throwing my mom into depression and financial uncertainty. Though she had been a successful businesswoman earlier in her life, she had come to rely on dad for most financial decisions. This book would have been a great help to her then. I'm giving it to a relative for Christmas--a relative who still has a living spouse. It's great for planning as well as recovering.

A well developed, expertly written action guide for use by an individual or team of individuals who are serious about addressing diversity. The material is easy to use, direct and very helpful in pin-pointing what I can do to improve my approach to diversity. This is a must use for anyone in public or private organizations who want to seriously address the issue of diversity!

Excellant series! A GREAT find! The many strategy ideas and suggestions guide the reader from assessment through the action planning process! The provided Action Planning Worksheets assist the reader in taking immediate steps and in benchmarking.

I read numerous business books throughout the year in an effort to remain enthusiastic, fresh and eager to face each new opportunity. I was delighted to find this jewel among the many tedious and mundane books that say the same thing with a few new quips here and there. This series presents ways to create renewal not only in my personal approach to my customers but gives me morsels to present TO my customers to use within their own organizations. So far, three of them have signed on to Amazon to check out the series previews!

Many of my customers are looking for ways to just stay interested and motivated as they begin each new year feeling stuck in the same job. By sharing something new from this series (a little plagiarism on my part) I bring something new to the party, I create new value with my customers!

I am grateful for this new approach. And because this material is so interesting and fresh , I have that much more to contribute to my work, to my peers and to my company.

Great work -- please keep it coming!

I purchased this to study for the AANP exam and was very well prepared. The questions were very close to the exam ones. Definitely buy this book and you will be well prepared for your adult certification exam.

I bought this book and also attended a review course taught by Sally Miller. She focuses on what you really need to know to do well on the Adult NP exam. Many of the questions in this book were similar to those in the test. By purchasing this book and borrowing another prep book (FNP based) from a friend, I was well prepared for the exam and did quite well. Best of luck!

This is an excellent review and study guide for the ANCC family nurse practitioner examination. I recommend it to all new graduates and others that are preparing for the certification exam.

The book is easy reading and the art work is very relaxing to see.

This is a delightful book of a gentlewoman's musings of days spent in the shear joy of fly-fishing with friends making memories in some of the finest trout streams in the west. Shared Treasures is written from a feminine prospective and it will evoke fond memories of your own fishing experiences. The author's passion for the sport of tempting a wily trout in a stream's feeding seam or hidden under an undercut bank with a beautifully hand-tied imitation of a tasty stonefly, caddis or mayfly nymph is gently told. The sketches taken out of a companion's journal give the reader an intimate view into these women's private play and camaraderie shared along classic rivers and creeks. The stories are more than just describing the anticipation, bliss and excitement of casting the fly, mending a line or setting the hook. These stories are about the author and her companions sharing in adventure. A fun read.

Sally Stoner's sharings brought me right into the river, and into camp, and to the mountains and fields and streams. I truely enjoyed the relaxed and intimate manner in which she involves the reader. I feel as though I know these people, and have spent many hours and years with them. A must read!

This collection of poetry, short fiction and inspirational writing is a joy to read. The author captures the irony, pathos, and humor in common sights and occurances that many of us never define for ourselves. This book has forced me to break a habit of many years duration--avoidance of giving books for gifts. This year, six of my dearest friends are receiving Sonflower Seeds in their gift package. A delightful read!

This collection of heart-felt inspirational poetry shares the intimacy of the author's Christian faith.

Sally Jadlow has written a wonderful little book for Christian readers. It is filled with insight and homely wisdom, and will speak personally to all. This is a great gift item for any season.