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I Want to Go Home: An Alzheimer's Journey
An account of a 6-year journey through Alzheimer's progression with my mother. Includes tips and "What I Wish I'd Known Sooner" sections. From early signs through severe limitations, the story lays out the challenges and increasing frustrations this disease entails for both patient and caregiver.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2026
About the author
Henning Thiel
3 books2 followersHenning Thiel is a Pacific Northwest author writing mythic eco‑thrillers rooted in real landscapes and real human stakes. His Gaia Testament Trilogy blends post‑apocalyptic survival, ancient forces, and slow‑burn character bonds set against the forests and mountains of the PNW.
He also writes emotionally grounded nonfiction, including an Alzheimer’s memoir honoring his mother’s journey with dignity, clarity, and heart.
Gaia is cross‑genre fiction — part mythic, part ecological, part mystery. It follows ordinary people caught in a world that’s waking up in strange, ancient ways. There’s slow‑burn tension, found family, humor, a touch of magic, and a planet that remembers more than we think. If you like atmospheric stories that don’t fit neatly on one shelf, that’s where Gaia lives.
He also writes emotionally grounded nonfiction, including an Alzheimer’s memoir honoring his mother’s journey with dignity, clarity, and heart.
Gaia is cross‑genre fiction — part mythic, part ecological, part mystery. It follows ordinary people caught in a world that’s waking up in strange, ancient ways. There’s slow‑burn tension, found family, humor, a touch of magic, and a planet that remembers more than we think. If you like atmospheric stories that don’t fit neatly on one shelf, that’s where Gaia lives.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 8, 2026
Thank you, thank you for writing this book. Our stories are very similar. My mother moved into a nursing home on March 9th, 2026 with moderate/severe dementia. This book has been like a “checklist” for me. You have summed up all the emotions that I have been feeling. It is a truly horrible disease to watch a loved one go thru. Your book has made me feel “less alone and crazy”(for lack of a better word).
August 1, 2026
Once I started listening to I Want to Go Home, I couldn't stop.
This journey hit me on so many levels. It was heart-wrenchingly human—frustrating, exhausting, sometimes infuriating, deeply caring, and through it all, so very full of love.
Henning Thiel made me see it all.
The heartbreaking reality of a strong woman—a beloved mother, a daughter—being swept further and further away by the bewildering progression of Alzheimer's. And alongside her, a family trying desperately to understand what was happening, how to help, and how to navigate a disease that seemed to keep changing the rules.
The realizations, the frustration, and especially the guilt Henning and his family had to navigate nearly undid me.
That Henning took the time to share this six-year journey—to expose the painful, imperfect, deeply human moments so others might know they aren't alone in this struggle—feels extraordinarily brave.
And then there is his "What I Wish I'd Known Sooner" sections. The hard-earned understanding he shares there could be invaluable to someone caring for a loved one through this disease.
This isn't simply a book about Alzheimer's.
It's about a family trying to hold on to someone they love, even as the disease keeps asking them to let go of who she used to be.
Heartbreaking. Honest. Helpful.
And above everything else, full of love.
This journey hit me on so many levels. It was heart-wrenchingly human—frustrating, exhausting, sometimes infuriating, deeply caring, and through it all, so very full of love.
Henning Thiel made me see it all.
The heartbreaking reality of a strong woman—a beloved mother, a daughter—being swept further and further away by the bewildering progression of Alzheimer's. And alongside her, a family trying desperately to understand what was happening, how to help, and how to navigate a disease that seemed to keep changing the rules.
The realizations, the frustration, and especially the guilt Henning and his family had to navigate nearly undid me.
That Henning took the time to share this six-year journey—to expose the painful, imperfect, deeply human moments so others might know they aren't alone in this struggle—feels extraordinarily brave.
And then there is his "What I Wish I'd Known Sooner" sections. The hard-earned understanding he shares there could be invaluable to someone caring for a loved one through this disease.
This isn't simply a book about Alzheimer's.
It's about a family trying to hold on to someone they love, even as the disease keeps asking them to let go of who she used to be.
Heartbreaking. Honest. Helpful.
And above everything else, full of love.
August 24, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **A Powerful and Honest Journey Through Alzheimer’s**
This is a deeply moving and eye-opening account of a six-year journey through Alzheimer’s, told with honesty, compassion, and genuine insight. What makes this book especially valuable is the way it captures not only the progression of the disease but also the emotional challenges faced by both the person living with Alzheimer’s and the caregiver.
The **“What I Wish I’d Known Sooner”** sections and practical tips add tremendous value, making this more than just a personal story—it’s a helpful resource for anyone trying to navigate the uncertainty, frustration, and heartbreak that can come with caregiving.
Raw, compassionate, and informative, this book offers understanding and reassurance when families need it most. **Highly recommended for caregivers, families, and anyone wanting a more personal perspective on Alzheimer’s.** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a deeply moving and eye-opening account of a six-year journey through Alzheimer’s, told with honesty, compassion, and genuine insight. What makes this book especially valuable is the way it captures not only the progression of the disease but also the emotional challenges faced by both the person living with Alzheimer’s and the caregiver.
The **“What I Wish I’d Known Sooner”** sections and practical tips add tremendous value, making this more than just a personal story—it’s a helpful resource for anyone trying to navigate the uncertainty, frustration, and heartbreak that can come with caregiving.
Raw, compassionate, and informative, this book offers understanding and reassurance when families need it most. **Highly recommended for caregivers, families, and anyone wanting a more personal perspective on Alzheimer’s.** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 20, 2026
An honest account of 6 years taking care of a mother with Alzheimer's, from early signs to advanced stages, and the challenges in between. Includes tips and "What I Wished I'd Known Sooner" sections that can help those who are touched by this most challenging disease.
April 20, 2026
An honest account of 6 years taking care of a mother with Alzheimer's, from early signs to advanced stages, and the challenges in between. Includes tips and "What I Wished I'd Known Sooner" sections that can help those who are touched by this most challenging disease.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews