“A powerful portrait of Alzheimer’s…marked by strong emotions and often bleak honesty.” —The Washington Post“The vulnerability, courage, and honesty in Before I Forget are heart-opening. Fear can be paralyzing…yet B. and Dan beautifully demonstrate that there is a different way to approach this stealthy invader. Alzheimer’s needs to come out of the shadows, and this book is an important step.” … this book is an important step.”
—Maria Shriver
Restaurateur, magazine publisher, celebrity chef, and nationally known lifestyle maven, B. Smith is struggling at 66 with a tag she never expected to add to that string: Alzheimer’s patient. She’s not alone. Every 67 seconds someone newly develops it, and millions of lives are affected by its aftershocks.
B. and her husband, Dan, working with Vanity Fair contributing editor Michael Shnayerson, unstintingly share their unfolding story. Crafted in short chapters that interweave their narrative with practical and helpful advice, readers learn about dealing with Alzheimer’s day-to-day challenges: the family realities and tensions, ways of coping, coming research that may tip the scale, as well as lessons learned along the way.
At its heart, Before I Forget is a love story: illuminating a love of family, life, and hope.
more
I am a person who has personally dealt several times with the anguish of Alzheimer’s. I recommend this book because I found it to be a wonderful first-hand account of what it is like to be the bewildered sufferer of this hideous disease and the overwhelmed, dedicated caregiver who is also suffering with great despair over the mental loss of his spouse.
This book is written with purpose, love, and sorrow, about and by a beloved celebrity and her loving husband. It is factual, interesting and gives its readers a wealth of information about Alzheimer’s, i.e., its victims, its progression, and other facts a person without experience with the disease will be shocked to learn. Alzheimer’s is fatal and because so little money is allocated for research, there is no cure.
In addition, I am a true believer that the No.1 victim of this horrible disease is all those dedicated caretakers out there, putting their own lives on an extensive “hold” for the long duration. Of course, they do it out of immense love but statistics show that they also can become so burned out they risk losing their own good health.
a story which everyone will eventually have some connection to. Well-told, even funny at times, but basically an informed view of what can happen when one lives with and then dies with Alzheimer’s.
Before I Forget is an honest, heartfelt depiction of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease from the perspective of a husband as he cares for his wife. It reads like a conversation with a dear friend. Compassionate and realistic.
I read about this book after the death of B. Smith. This is a realistic book about Alzheimer’s and the effects it has not only on the patient but also on all caregivers. Dan Gasby, with love, explores/explains the pains he and B. went through as the disease robbed them of their lives together. There was honesty and realistic struggles for everyone, and even some denial that was discovered and overcome. It took a toll on their lives. They were brave to be public about their struggles.
I would recommend this book for anyone currently struggling or just wanting any information about Alzheimer’s
A touching book about a deeply personal experience.
Such a sad disease that his wife had but it was so factual and a real tear jerker.
Wonderful true story of B. Smith and her caretaker husband. She has early onset Alzheimer’s.
Must read!
Difficult to read but poignant and helpful.
As 71 year old who experiences “senior” moments it is very scary, but also very informative. After caring for in laws who had dementia I understand the denial aspect of the care giver. I would recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing memory problems or anyone who is a caregiver. It is also an excellent reference book.
My mother has dementia and Alzheimers. She has forgotten her children’s names, can’t remember what words to use and is easily frustrated. She is in a secure, memory-care home but it feels like she’s gone already. Dan and B’s story is so poignant and sadly many people are going through the same experiences. Everyone should read this book.
Sad, but very well written. For those of us who aren’t intimately involved with Alzheimer’s, “Before I Forget” can, perhaps, open eyes, ease some fears, and offer some guidance for all of us.
My mother had Alzheimer’s. That is why I chose this book. If you have a loved one with this horrible disease, you will find the a lot of information to help maneuver the channels toward handling this horrific disease. It was too late for Mom. Hopefully, you will take advantage of all the information. If not, it is a beautiful and hear wrenching true story about a high profile family.
Enlightening
Loved this book. So many people have family with memory loss, it’s tragic. Gone before they die.
sad but heartwarming
This first person narrative of lives transformed by Alzheimer’s opened my eyes about the disease.
Compassionate. I learned much. A keeper.
As a person with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s it was interesting to read how another family coped. Also contained information about the state of Alzheimer’s research. They are a wonderful couple.
A well written book, one which we all should read, in this day and age .