Fierce Blessing: A Journey into Alzheimer's, Compassion, and the Joy of Being [Paperback]

Wayne Baltz (Author), Terry Baltz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

"My mother once told me that she hoped she would die of a heart attack, quickly. She didn't. She died from Alzheimer's, slowly. Yet through those years she never stopped reaching out to life. . . . I know that my mother's illness brought her losses. I believe that it brought her gifts as well, as I know it did to Wayne and me. She was our blessing, although a fierce one . . ."

For the four years from her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s until her death, authors Wayne and Terry Baltz were caregivers and advocates for Terry’s mother. What the books and experts and many lay persons told the Baltzes repeatedly—that this is a horrible disease which only gets worse each day—was true. But it proved to be only part of the truth, overlooking entirely the love and joy the three experienced, not only in spite of but often as a direct result of the illness.

Written in the alternating voices of Terry and Wayne, FIERCE BLESSING: A Journey into Alzheimer’s, Compassion, and the Joy of Being is an intimate, honest, and beautiful telling of their experiences over those amazing four years. The book is not a prescription for this incurable disease. It offers instead information at a deeper level, information essential not only to understanding and getting through such an experience, but for actually enhancing the lives of all involved. Fierce Blessing is true. It is real. It delivers aid and comfort to anyone with aging parents or loved ones.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Prairie Divide Productions (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884610714
• ISBN-13: 978-1884610714
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #776,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable story, superbly told, April 2, 2004

By 

Wendy Bonifazi, RN, APR, CLS, former columnis... (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fierce Blessing: A Journey into Alzheimer's, Compassion, and the Joy of Being (Paperback)

This is the most extraordinary memoir I've ever read, and also one of the best resources I know for families coping with Alzheimer's. It's a literary narrative that's the story of life itself: lived long, lived hard, and ultimately lived well. With humor and candor, the authors share their confusion, frustration and hard-won clarity, sweeping readers along for their heart-rending yet heart-warming journey through the worlds of dementia, chronic illness and long term care.
It's a readable, sometimes rollicking tale of family life, family conflict and coming to peace, told with honesty and compassion. Its painful insights and poignant inspiration make it essential reading for anyone involved with Alzheimer's disease or long term care, showing all of the ugliness and all of the astonishing joy and beauty of both.
In my professional capacity, I've read dozens of caregivers' books, but this is the one I recommend to caregivers for content, and to readers who love the written word.
If you're beginning the journey, read it for guidance; if you've completed this journey, read it for comfort and perspective; and if you're not on this journey, read it for sheer delight.
Fierce Blessing is a remarkable story, superbly told, and a glorious gift to caregivers or any other reader in need of respite, resolve, or restoration of the spirit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful insight, December 3, 2004

By 

Laura Allender "Laura" (St. Louis, MO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fierce Blessing: A Journey into Alzheimer's, Compassion, and the Joy of Being (Paperback)

This book provides the reader with great insight into what a family goes through when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. The authors relate with love and compassion their journey caring for a family member. Their frustrations,fears, daily challenges and blessings inspire both laughter and tears. As a Registered Nurse with nearly 30 years experience, I highly recommend this book for family members, care providers, and anyone who wants to better understand the joys and sorrows that come with this diagnosis.

Laura Allender, BSN, RN, MS

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fierce Blessing, November 22, 2004

By 

Alison Cook (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fierce Blessing: A Journey into Alzheimer's, Compassion, and the Joy of Being (Paperback)

I think anyone who comes in contact with Alzheimer's would want to know about this book. Wayne and Terry Baltz wrote Fierce Blessing, a Journey Into Alzheimer's, Compassion, and the Joy of Being, a memoir detailing the experience of caring for Terry's mother who lived through and died from Alzheimer's disease.

Fierce Blessing is a finalist for the 2004 Book of the Year Award in the State of Colorado. Once you read it, you will understand why.

Wayne and Terry have such a loving and patient way of looking at everything and treating everyone but even they were pushed to their limits during the years of living with and watching the deterioration of a parent whose brain was slowly giving way. This book shares the experience of day-to-day problems, joys, emotional upheavals, the chuckles and tears of living and caring for a dear mother who seems to no longer be your dear mother.

It's mesmerizing -- sweet, frustrating, funny, infuriating, loving. I hope you will all read and enjoy and pass this book along to your friends.