Shadows in the Sand

Loss is an unavoidable component of life. And yet, advertisers and gurus alike promote longevity and vitality as a means of prolonging life's pleasures. We are not encouraged or conditioned to face reality until it is forced upon us. But when we do summon the courage to look ahead, sometimes we find that what we fear most may not be as unbearable as what we had first thought. Lynne Farrell Abrams was compelled to open her heart to her sorrow by sharing her grief journey with readers, born of a column she was given by her local newspaper, The Citrus County Chronicle. She lost her husband to Lewy Body Dementia in 2023. She watched her once vibrant, witty, talented husband become a shadow of his former self after he had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. From a practicing speech pathologist, a veteran actor and director, to someone resembling many of the patients he used to treat, Ms. Abrams watched the symptoms take their toll. as her husband ended up losing a quarter of his body weight before passing away. Since first being published, readers have expressed an interest in following her journey in its entirety. Thus this compilation of her columns, with a few extra articles included. The author hopes her articles serve to inspire other caregivers that, though the journey can be arduous and lonely, memories keep our loved ones alive. Eventually, if you are as lucky as she feels, your loved one can become assimilated into your very soul.