Dragon Grip [Perfect Paperback]

Kathy Sheller McCann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 2008

Dragon Grip is the story of John P. McCann and his final two years battling Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. He passed away at the age of 59! It is the journal his wife wrote during that time - a chronicle of his symptoms, and her reactions and emotions, during those devastating final years. You will live through the anxiety, the loneliness, and the fear. You might find solace in knowing that someone has "been there, done that." By sharing her personal thoughts, Kathy hopes that the more light that is shed on this still rare form of Alzheimer's the better the chances that society will demand that a cause and a cure will be found. As Kathy says, people usually know that it affects your memory. You might begin to appear goofy. In the beginning you lose the person you are. Your family loses the person they loved. And then, when communication is lost, when sharing hopes and dreams are gone, you are left with a body which loses its abilities. Your loved ones must continue to care for you, a person who has no idea who they are. You must continue living in a world which has become terrifying in its emptiness. When the end of life comes for someone with Alzheimer s, it is a blessing. John s life was a blessing to us, his death, a blessing to him. This disease must be eradicated before OUR children, yours and mine, might come face-to-face with their own personal dragon.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

KATHY SHELLER McCANN was John s wife for 33 years. She was his business partner for 15 years. She was his caregiver for 2 years. Kathy received her BA degree in psychology, and was always fascinated with the brain, how it worked and why. Another interest was chronicling life, events, whatever was important at the moment. But never in her wildest imagination did she ever think that she would come face to face with her interests in such a personal way. When she was thrust into her journey with Alzheimer's Disease she soon realized that she needed to write things down how John was acting, how she was reacting. She wrote almost every night. Over six hundred full-sized single-spaced pages pared down to 121! She focused on John. Those were the words that counted. In Dragon Grip you get to live the Alzheimer's life. It isn't glorified, or made pretty, if that could even be possible. It is an actual account taken from Kathy's personal journal.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: McCann Communications (February 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0980093805
• ISBN-13: 978-0980093803
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,354,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, April 22, 2008

By 

John (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon Grip (Perfect Paperback)

Dragon Grip amazed me. It is a very educational book concerning the Early Onset of Alzheimer's disease. I never knew there were two types of Alzheimer's disease and one that could destroy someone so young.

The author very methodically, and passionately, describes the painful stages of this very fast and progressive disease that "gripped" her husband and destroyed his great mind. She painfully explains the impact on the family and her as the caregiver.

The author's day to day account of this devastating disease is priceless. It provides a wealth of information to other caregivers and offers them support in dealing with their loved ones.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone, even if they are not impacted by this dreadful disease, because the book will help people learn how to deal with any tragedy. I admire the author's ability to write such a well written and valuable book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Facing Alzheimer's Disease at such an early age..., March 23, 2008

By 

Adult Day Services Network "www.adultdaycc.org" (Contra Costa County, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon Grip (Perfect Paperback)

Dragon Grip drew me in to the day-to-day awfulness, dilemmas, and humor not found in other books nor discussed by most spouses or caregivers who endure the fast progressing mental and physical decline of a young 50-something person. The author balances how the disease affected her husband with how the results of his disease impacted her and their children.

This book is a must read for any age that has a connection with someone with Alzheimer's disease. The author contrasts the similarities and the differences between Alzheimer's that affects elderly usually over 65 and Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease: those of lost income and retirement funding, impact on sub-adult children still at home or in college, and the caregiver's loss of companionship and social sphere.

As the long distance caregiver to my mother who had Alzheimer's and a subsequent career change to working with the elderly, including those with this disease, I am in awe of the author's resilience and ability to chronicle this devastating disease while she and the family were living it.