Island Girl by Lynda Simmons, the emotionally riveting story of a 55 year old mother, Ruby Donaldson, fighting to reunite her family as she struggles with the diagnosis of early on-set Alzheimer’s.

Facing the terrible reality of her illness, Ruby refuses to let the disease control her future. But before she can take any final action, she must find a way to convince her elder daughter Liz to grow up and come home; to take her place as head of the family thereby securing the future of their home on the Island, and ensuring that Liz’s younger sister, Grace, will be cared for in the only place that is safe for her.

But Liz and Ruby have been estranged for years, and now Liz wonders why she should forgive her mother a lifetime of sins just because she’s sick. Does Alzheimer’s somehow grant Ruby instant immunity, a moral get-out-of-jail-free card?

Ruby always thought she’d have a lifetime to make things right, but suddenly time is running out. She has to put her broken family back together quickly while searching for a way to deal with the inevitable- and do it with all the grit, stubbornness, and unstoppable determination that makes Ruby who she is…before she’s Ruby no longer.

You can find Lynda Simmons book “Island Girl” at bookstores near you, release date was Tuesday December 7, 2010. If you cannot find it please ask your local book store to order it.

For more information about Lynda or to invite her to your next book club meeting visit her website at http://www.lyndasimmons.com

They were living the American Dream…then their dream became a nightmare!

The July’s want to help you and your loved one(s) LIVE life beyond illness!

Their story captures the devastation and pain chronic illness exacts on the patient and the caregiving spouse. The July’s lost everything but each other. They were torn from their dreams and thrust headlong into a fight for their lives with an illness that wrecked their plans, their finances, and ultimately became a battle for their souls. But they have learned how, not only to survive, but to have a life beyond illness.

Jamey Lacy July was struck down with a devastating illness right at the prime of her life.  She went from being an athlete, wellness expert, and speaker to living her life day to day.  William July is a nationally recognized author on four relationship books and has been interviewed on national TV and radio stations.

Together they fought to reconstruct their lives.

Their story amazed me when I first went to their website.  The strength still have and the love that they had for each other. Jamey during the show shares tips for the caregiver to take care of themselves, while she is the one with the chronic disease she recognized that her husband still needed to get out in the world and go to the gym, have time to rejuvenate his body and soul.

I know many people who are caregivers and see the strain it can have on a relationship if the caregiver does not take time out and get away from being a caregiver.  While we fight with the guilt of being able to go out and do things, or the guilt of leaving the person we are taking care of when they cannot get out and about themselves…we as caregivers do need to learn that in order to be the best we can we still need to allow ourselves time to be just that ourselves.

The July’s book “A Husband, A Wife, and An Illness-Living Life Beyond Chronic Illness” is one of the best books as it talks about both sides of the story. From the stand point of both the caregiver and the person who is chronically ill. The book is also set up with questions and an action plan at the end of each chapter that helps you think and process what they chapter was all about.
Purchase Book Here-A Husband, A Wife, & An Illness: Living Life Beyond Chronic Illness

For more information and to purchase their book go to http://www.CouplesFacingIllness.com

More about the July’s

Dr. William July

Dr. William July has a special interest in relationships and personality psychology. He is the author ofseveral books on relationships published by Doubleday, including a national bestseller. For titles, visit williamjuly.com. William regularly appears on CNN, the Fox News Channel, and other news networks providing insights on current issues. Also, he is the regularly featured relationship and personal coach for the Great Day Houston Show on KHOU (CBS). He writes a column for Our Texas magazine and has also been a columnist for Essence magazine. Dr. July is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Personality & Social Psychology, and the International Association for Relationship Research. In addition to his media work he has authored a chapter on personality psychology for a textbook published by Pearson, a leading academic publisher.

Jamey Lacy-July is a certified fitness specialist, former competitive athlete, and former fitness model. She established Houston’s first full-scale personal training and physical rehabilitation center. Jamey has frequently appeared on television and has been featured in magazines such as SHAPE and Muscle & Fitness. She has authored numerous articles and lectured nationally on topics of physical and spiritual wellness for organizations such as The Institute of Medicine and The Women’s Sports Foundation. Jamey is the subject of a t.v. interview that won Best Sports Story by the Associated Press.

Jamey Lacy July

As a consumer advocate Jamey has lobbied Congress to promote legislation for safer health issues for Americans. In A Husband, A Wife, & An Illness, Jamey’s voice reveals the irony and raw nature of her plight with a ravaging illness, while also offering helpful insights for surviving the critical phases of chronic diseases.

Photo of Jamey during early stage of illness, before onset of most severe symptoms.

With more and more families having to deal with dementia and alzeheimers people are searching for the help and assistance they need to help those they love be more comfortable as they combat this increasingly broading disease.

In the next few years more and more families will be faced with having to take care of aging parents, family members and even friends (According to a 2007 survey conducted by Harris Interactive for The MetLife Foundation, memory loss is second only to cancer as the nations most feared disease.)…while there is help out there for those who have dementia many times there is not help for the caregivers.  Caregivers are a rare breed, they give and give all the while still trying to keep the rest of their lives normal.

Dr. Bresky has developed a 9 point system that not only helps those who suffer from dementia but also help for caregivers.  We all know that if caregivers are not taking care of themselves, they too will fall ill.

On today’s show Dr. Bresky talks about his 9 point system and how caregivers can give more to themselves while still helping out those they love.

After delivering nearly 10,000 babies (using husband-coached natural childbirth) as a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist for over 30 years, Arnold Bresky M.D. switched his focus 12 years ago to the other end of lifes spectrum. He now devotes his full attention to memory function and considers himself a quality of life healer and preventive gerontologist. He maintains that most individuals and their families who are dealing with issues related to aging can be helped through pro-active intervention and treatment.

Recognizing the importance of assisting Alzheimers and dementia sufferers, Dr. Bresky began to practice Preventive Gerontology in 1996, and continues to work daily with his patients one-on-one. In 2005, he became known as the memory doctor at the Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda, California, and then co-founded the Brain Longevity Center in Thousand Oaks, California in 2007. He currently serves as Medical Director of the Camarillo Springs Holistic Medical Center in Camarillo, California. He is also spearheading the Memory Care Network and Brain Tune-Up Center (www.mybraintuneup.com).

As an expert in the field, Dr. Bresky recognizes the important role caregivers play in society in working with seniors and individuals with disabilities, as well as long-term care workers to provide quality care.

While Alzheimers disease has reached crisis proportions in the United States, the good news is that physicians now know how to protect aging brains and to slow the progression of cognitive decline.

Dr. Bresky says planning for tomorrow starts today. The symptoms of dementia can be delayed for 3-5 years through healthy lifestyles and behavior modification. If we can slow the progression of Alzheimers by 5 years, we can cut the number of cases in half, he says. If the onset of Alzheimers were delayed by 10 years, the disease would essentially be eradicated.

According to a 2007 survey conducted by Harris Interactive for The MetLife Foundation, memory loss is second only to cancer as the nations most feared disease.

Care-giving is a vital linked issue, Dr. Bresky notes. As the years pass, he says the supply of caregivers will decrease and the demand needed will dramatically increase. Both the drafted and professional caregiver have no scientific protocols to follow and therefore they burnout and become victims.

Memory is crucial for learning new material and new skills every day. We have the power to have a younger and healthier brain, but we have to continue to be a life-long learner, Dr. Bresky says. You either use it or lose it!

Dr. Bresky has created a caregiver road map for both self-care and how to care for others. Its all contained in his new book The Secret for Caregiver Success which will be released in mid-June, and available online (www.mybraintuneup.com) as well as at leading bookstores.

In his book to help combat memory loss, Dr. Bresky outlines a revolutionary new program called the Brain Tune-Up, a multi-disciplinary system to teach individuals how to continue growing intellectually, creatively, gracefully, successfully and emotionally as the years progress. My program improves the memory function to enhance a persons quality of life, he adds.

Dr. Breskys user-friendly 9-Point Brain TuneUp system is holistic and centered on preventive medicine. Simply, its therapeutic recreation for individuals and facilities to combine attention-training workbooks using art and music (Mozarts piano Concerto #21 is his favorite) and over 2,000 brain exercises. His four pillars of brain health are — physical activity, mental activity, social activity and good cardio-vascular health.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Bresky received his B.S. Degree from Brooklyn College and M.D. Degree in 1965 from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Along the way, he attended Yeshiva with his sights set on becoming a Rabbi, but instead won a scholarship which helped him enter medical school. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he began his residency as an OB/GYN at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Hollywood in 1966 and in 1970 entered private practice in the San Fernando Valley.

Tonya Ramsey host of Journey to Self was interviewed on Heal Yourself Talk Radio on June 3rd about taking care of a family member. Tonya will be sharing the 6 year journey of taking care of her father who was diagnosed with dementia in 2002.Rebbekah talks about helping with taking care of her grandmother for several years.

Part 2 of this show will air on Thursday June 26th

On this week’s Journey to Self we are continuing our discussion of taking care of family members, including some valuable lessons that I have learned in the six years that I have been the health care power of attorney for my father who was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in 2002.

Join us on Journey to Self ~ http://blogtalkradio.com/journeytoself @ 12pm cst / 1pm est, as I share more of my own journey and give some important tips for individuals that are taking care of ill family member or may be in the future.

Due to technical difficulties this show has been rescheduled for June 26th at 12pm cst / 1pm est.