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“A masterpiece...an absorbing and fascinating account,
beautifully written and of value to all engaged in the
care of Alzheimer's patients.”
~ Dr. D. A. Henderson, Professor of Medicine & Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
In this shimmering jewel of a memoir, author Cathie Borrie traverses
rich terrain as she unearths the hidden and often painful treasures of a
life well lived: the shadows and joys of childhood, the relationships that
leave us both illuminated and bereft, the love, longing and loss that surge
to the fore when a parent is ailing. Memory, and the losing of it, serves
as a powerful guide, and Borrie follows her mother's eccentric and poetic
lead into the past, transformed by the unexpected brilliance of the elder
woman's shifting dementia mind. A paean of redemptive beauty, The Long
Hello cherishes the bond between mothers and daughters, and creates a startling
change in society's perception of those journeying through Alzheimer's.
This beautiful poem of a book is a collection of conversations offering
alternative and beautiful insights into the Alzheimer's mind. Celebrating
the revelatory eloquence of the altered realities of dementia, these
vignettes are from Cathie Borrie's lyrical memoir, The Long Hello ~
The Other Side of Alzheimer's, which chronicles and cherishes the relationship
between a mother and daughter over a seven-year period as the mother's
mind transforms and her dementia increases. The mother's voice weaves
throughout the memoir with insight, humor and an astonishing poetic
sensibility, challenging the negative stereotypes pervasive in the current
and often limiting geography of dementia.
Cathie Borrie devotes her immense energies to educating people on the
experience of Alzheimer's and Alzheimer's care-giving. She is dedicated
to galvanizing a positive, enlightened change in society's perception of
dementia. Born in Vancouver, Cathie has had an extensive and diverse
working life, which includes careers in health, law and business.
Beginning as a nurse, she went on to attain a Masters of Public Health from
Johns Hopkins University, graduated from Law School at the University of
Saskatchewan and has her Certificate in Creative Writing from Simon Fraser University.
A creative spirit, Cathie is also an accomplished ballroom dancer, and has
dabbled in clowning and theater. Her education and career experience
did not, however, prepare her for the seven years she spent caring for her
mother, who had Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Many of the Alzheimer's
books that she read during her care-giving years did not address the
totality of the journey, neglecting as they did to reveal the unfolding
poetry and beauty of her mother's walk with dementia. In choosing to write
a lyrical memoir of her experiences, Cathie elected not only to explore
the spiritual insight made possible by the Alzheimer's journey, but also
mined her past to weave the loss of a sibling, the impact of divorce on
children, the effects of alcoholism on relationships, and the healing
power of dance, into a rich narrative. Cathie has presented at
international conferences on Alzheimer's, and works tirelessly as an
advocate for both people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. As
part of her determination to change public perception, she is adapting
The Long Hello for stage and screen.
Visit Cathie Borrie's website to find out more.
Download PDF version
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