This book tells the powerful 30-year love story of a young American woman and a delightfully eccentric Romanian gentleman and scholar. In addition to being a compelling love story, this award-winning book illustrates solutions to 14 specific problems that typically arise when caring for a person with dementia – everything from denial, diagnosis and difficult behaviors to nursing home and hospice care.
Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer's and Joy
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About the Author
Dr. Marie Marley is an expert grant writer who, over the years, acquired a keen understanding of many geriatric topics, including dementia, but none of that could have prepared her for the sometimes heartbreaking demands of loving and caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Come Back Early Today is Marie’s first foray into creative nonfiction, where she describes her remarkable relationship with Dr. Edward Theodoru. Marie has been a grant writer at both the University of Cincinnati Department of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. She lives in Olathe, Kansas with her Shih Tzu, Peter, whom Ed loved dearly, and her younger pup, Joey, whom Ed would have been so delighted to meet.
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More About the Author
Marie Marley was a caregiver for her delightfully colorful, wickedly eccentric Romanian soul mate who eventually developed Alzheimer's disease. She has now written an award-winning book, Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer's and Joy. It narrates their 30-year love story and also illustrates her solutions to 14 issues Alzheimer's caregivers face - everything from denial, diagnosis and difficult behaviors to nursing home and hospice care. Get the book or Kindle version at Amazon.com and www.ComeBackEarlyToday.com. Marie is a grant writer at the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Marie Marley's "Come Back Early Today" exemplifies the struggles involved in identifying and accepting cognitive decline in a loved one with dementia and coming to grips with the need to place someone in a long term care facility.
Marley's story looks back over three decades of her relationship with a remarkable, eccentric and always charming Romanian professor. Before dementia disrupted his life and hers, he had been a rock of support and endlessly knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects. Accepting his loss of abilities and the loss of their former relationship was a long process. Marley vividly describes her denial, anxiety and guilt, being honest about how painful it was while also managing to use humor and a positive attitude to get through the difficult days. The book is delightful and inspirational, revealing ways to relate in spite of the inevitable cognitive decline. It will be helpful to many others facing similar challenges, giving suggestions on coping while assuring us that love can endure despite the obstacles inherent in Alzheimer's disease. I found "Come Back Early Today" to be honest, realistic, and engrossing from the first page to the last.
Marley's story looks back over three decades of her relationship with a remarkable, eccentric and always charming Romanian professor. Before dementia disrupted his life and hers, he had been a rock of support and endlessly knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects. Accepting his loss of abilities and the loss of their former relationship was a long process. Marley vividly describes her denial, anxiety and guilt, being honest about how painful it was while also managing to use humor and a positive attitude to get through the difficult days. The book is delightful and inspirational, revealing ways to relate in spite of the inevitable cognitive decline. It will be helpful to many others facing similar challenges, giving suggestions on coping while assuring us that love can endure despite the obstacles inherent in Alzheimer's disease. I found "Come Back Early Today" to be honest, realistic, and engrossing from the first page to the last.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I don't read many books, but I was given this one by my daughter. She said I might relate to it because of the bits about Alzheimer's. I was not looking forward to reliving that. But I decided to read it because my daughter wanted me to. It wasn't a boring how-to book. It was easy to read because it was written like a love story.
The parts about taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer's were so helpful. I wish I had understood all those things 10 years ago when I took care of my mom! We wouldn't have argued so much all the time. I had always wanted her to know what was really happening. I wish now I had just enjoyed being with her wherever and whenever she was. The part that affected me the most was when Marie's mom died (not from Alzheimer's). I cried and cried. I guess since it was her mom it reminded me of my mom.
I just loved all the little stories and the wonderful people. Marie was delightful and inspiring. And the people in her stories are so real and interesting! When reading about the violinist playing for Ed, I could hear the music and see Ed wanting to dance !
Mostly I laughed a lot. I laughed when Ed did and said funny things, especially in his Romanian accent. For example, when he asked the drug store clerk if he had any "hang-overs". Ed is just so cute! I wish I had met him. The way Marie and Ed loved each other was amazing!!
The parts about taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer's were so helpful. I wish I had understood all those things 10 years ago when I took care of my mom! We wouldn't have argued so much all the time. I had always wanted her to know what was really happening. I wish now I had just enjoyed being with her wherever and whenever she was. The part that affected me the most was when Marie's mom died (not from Alzheimer's). I cried and cried. I guess since it was her mom it reminded me of my mom.
I just loved all the little stories and the wonderful people. Marie was delightful and inspiring. And the people in her stories are so real and interesting! When reading about the violinist playing for Ed, I could hear the music and see Ed wanting to dance !
Mostly I laughed a lot. I laughed when Ed did and said funny things, especially in his Romanian accent. For example, when he asked the drug store clerk if he had any "hang-overs". Ed is just so cute! I wish I had met him. The way Marie and Ed loved each other was amazing!!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By lenexamimi
Format:Paperback
I never expected to be so intrigued by this beautiful story about Alzheimer's that I would even think about writing a review. The story is so much more than just a primer on dementia. It is a compelling and delightful memoir about love, friendship, and devotion that transcend the disease. It humorously, affectionately, and sometimes painfully recounts the author's numerous and unexpected challenges that she faced as she watched her life partner slowly become lost in his dementia. The story will make you laugh out loud, weep unexpectedly, and even feel a deep sense of comfort in knowing that some of our most difficult personal challenges can also produce such rich rewards!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marie Marely
I started to read Marie's blogs online paragraphs from her book . It was a lovely story about love in the truest form .Unconditionally , brave humorous at times laughing with . Read more
Published 6 days ago by Amy Silber
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Inspiring Tale ... and a Useful One
Marie Marley's story of Alzheimer's and love is touching and ultimately heartening. In the book's early pages Ed, her life partner, acts more and more erratically and irrationally. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Tinky Weisblat
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Love Story About "Luggages" of Life
Marie Marley's life of trials and triumphs took the exact path to lead her as she supported her dear Ed through the process of Alzheimer's. Read more
Published 2 months ago by T Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful Guide
As someone whose partner is now experiencing dimentia, it was a helpful guide in how best to care for him as well as myself.
Published 2 months ago by Sylvia Coles
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rollercoaster
This is an amazing memoir of love, happiness, tragedy, and life. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to feel the "warm" moments of life.
Published 2 months ago by Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good insight into the progression of Alzheimer's
Unlike other storys about Alzheimer's this is not about early onset. But like all of these types of story's it is a love story. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Harry Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars
None
Sad, funny and inspirational story. As someone coping with a loved ones dementia this book really hit home. Thank you Marie for sharing your story.
Published 4 months ago by maureen from california
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank you!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The information is "spot on" and the reading is easy flowing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cynthia Jacobsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic book
I dif so enjoy this book and felt it tug at my heart. It touches on the pain dementia causes the caregiver but in a sweet lovely way. How she holds on to the good times. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Vicki A. Elgin
2.0 out of 5 stars
Come Back Early Today
There was too much detail of a relationship out of marriage. It is not the same as dealing with a husband..
Published 5 months ago by samuel
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