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Embracing What Remains: A Memoir
Andrea struggles to mourn a man who is still alive as she witnesses her father decline into the depths of Alzheimer’s. Denial and devastation color her life when she learns her father, Richard, a recently retired surgeon, is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 67. Her dream to grow closer with him is crushed as thereality of his disease is fully realized. Andrea, a mother of three young children, learns to balance motherhood with daughterhood as she grapples to accept her father’s fate. Andrea rides an unpredictable wave of tears, frustration, laughter, irony, and surprising joy as she and her family navigate the ups and downs of a disease that steals memories all the while providing hope from the lasting ones that remain.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2021
21 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 19, 2022
Amazing book.
Embracing what remains is an extraordinary and a heart touching memoir off a daughter caught in the whirlwind of struggles and acceptance as she would witness her father get pulled into the progressive disease that destroys memories of a lifetime.
Andrea's life took a shocking turn when her father, an eminent retired surgeon got diagnosed with dementia and then later on with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 67. Everything was about to change for her and her family.
Andrea, being the mother of three young kids, had a big responsibility ahead of her which will take her on a journey of a new role of daughterhood. Follow her as she pens down her emotions and feelings, struggles and hopes, balancing it all and learning to navigate through this challenging road.
This heartbreakingly beautiful memoir grabbed my attention from the very first page with its raw and honest account. Alzheimer's not only takes away a person's important mental functions but it also takes away the precious memories which he/ she would have cherished in the years to come. The author's brutal honesty about her role as a daughter and caregiver will definitely be resonant to those who have been in her shoes. Incredibly well written and profound resonance, she chronicles everything from occasional hopeful moments and influx reality of it all. One thing is surely evident that she is a loving and caring daughter.
This memoir is not just a book, it is an emotion laid bear to those who are ready to delve into a deeper part of their soul that generally remains passive. It is a must read for all those who know and understand Alzheimer's and how it alters the person's as well as the people's lives significantly.
Embracing what remains is an extraordinary and a heart touching memoir off a daughter caught in the whirlwind of struggles and acceptance as she would witness her father get pulled into the progressive disease that destroys memories of a lifetime.
Andrea's life took a shocking turn when her father, an eminent retired surgeon got diagnosed with dementia and then later on with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 67. Everything was about to change for her and her family.
Andrea, being the mother of three young kids, had a big responsibility ahead of her which will take her on a journey of a new role of daughterhood. Follow her as she pens down her emotions and feelings, struggles and hopes, balancing it all and learning to navigate through this challenging road.
This heartbreakingly beautiful memoir grabbed my attention from the very first page with its raw and honest account. Alzheimer's not only takes away a person's important mental functions but it also takes away the precious memories which he/ she would have cherished in the years to come. The author's brutal honesty about her role as a daughter and caregiver will definitely be resonant to those who have been in her shoes. Incredibly well written and profound resonance, she chronicles everything from occasional hopeful moments and influx reality of it all. One thing is surely evident that she is a loving and caring daughter.
This memoir is not just a book, it is an emotion laid bear to those who are ready to delve into a deeper part of their soul that generally remains passive. It is a must read for all those who know and understand Alzheimer's and how it alters the person's as well as the people's lives significantly.
January 7, 2022
Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Embracing What Remains
Andrea Couture
Alzheimer's/Family Relationship
234 Pages
Embracing What Remains is a daughter’s story about her father’s Alzheimer’s disease.
Short Synopsis
Andrea faces her father’s Alzheimer’s as she is right in the throes of raising her little ones. In his sixties, he goes from being a brilliant doctor to being unable to do even the simplest things.
My Thoughts
Andrea puts it all on the table in Embracing What Remains. Her emotions are thrown out there for the world to see as she talks about the struggle of watching her father lose his ability to carry on a conversation and take care of himself.
The emotional and physical aspects of dealing with this disease take a toll on the whole family. Andrea is brutally honest about her feelings as she tries to navigate between her own family & helping her parents.
Fear, sadness, and an overwhelming need to be helpful come through the pages as her story is told.
Embracing What Remains is a book that tells Andrea’s story which in turn helps others dealing with Alzheimer's disease. Raw and honest, it tells of her father’s legacy and the crippling effects of Alzheimer’s that take so much of that person away.
🔗Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3zz8KDA
🔗As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Embracing What Remains
Andrea Couture
Alzheimer's/Family Relationship
234 Pages
Embracing What Remains is a daughter’s story about her father’s Alzheimer’s disease.
Short Synopsis
Andrea faces her father’s Alzheimer’s as she is right in the throes of raising her little ones. In his sixties, he goes from being a brilliant doctor to being unable to do even the simplest things.
My Thoughts
Andrea puts it all on the table in Embracing What Remains. Her emotions are thrown out there for the world to see as she talks about the struggle of watching her father lose his ability to carry on a conversation and take care of himself.
The emotional and physical aspects of dealing with this disease take a toll on the whole family. Andrea is brutally honest about her feelings as she tries to navigate between her own family & helping her parents.
Fear, sadness, and an overwhelming need to be helpful come through the pages as her story is told.
Embracing What Remains is a book that tells Andrea’s story which in turn helps others dealing with Alzheimer's disease. Raw and honest, it tells of her father’s legacy and the crippling effects of Alzheimer’s that take so much of that person away.
🔗Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3zz8KDA
🔗As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
April 6, 2022
Andrea’s love and caring nature are phenomenal. When Andrea’s dad gets Alzheimer’s, she helps her mom take care of him while caring for her kids and wonderful husband. She cares for her dad exactly as he cared for her throughout her life. Her strength and courage are remarkable. What impacted me most was not only seeing the love between Andrea and her husband, but the love between her parents, even when her dad doesn’t remember her mom most of the time. This inspirational book had me laughing and crying, sometimes simultaneously.
July 5, 2021
A heartfelt story about a daughter watching her dad go thru early onset dementia.
June 21, 2021
My dear friend, @author.andrea.couture wrote a beautiful memoir about her father’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. Embracing What Remains focuses Andrea’s experience as a daughter watching her father decline from a surgeon at the top of his field to a man quickly and severely disabled by his Alzheimer’s.
Andrea’s story is so well told and poignant. This book is not only a beautiful tribute to her father, Dr. Richard Gamelli, but also a gift to anyone who has a parent diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Drea is realistic with her struggles as a daughter and a mother- balancing caring for her own young family and her aging and ailing parents. Despite mourning the loss of “old dad” there is still so much optimism and grace and humility woven along with the sadness of her father’s terminal diagnosis.
I’ve been friends with the author since we were 18 years old and I’m so proud of her- there is so much honesty and vulnerability in these pages. I really can’t say enough about how wonderful and heartfelt this book is. Please read this book yourself and refer it to a friend or family member who may be struggling with a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Andrea’s story is so well told and poignant. This book is not only a beautiful tribute to her father, Dr. Richard Gamelli, but also a gift to anyone who has a parent diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Drea is realistic with her struggles as a daughter and a mother- balancing caring for her own young family and her aging and ailing parents. Despite mourning the loss of “old dad” there is still so much optimism and grace and humility woven along with the sadness of her father’s terminal diagnosis.
I’ve been friends with the author since we were 18 years old and I’m so proud of her- there is so much honesty and vulnerability in these pages. I really can’t say enough about how wonderful and heartfelt this book is. Please read this book yourself and refer it to a friend or family member who may be struggling with a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
April 2, 2022
Andrea's book is an 'easy' read from the standpoint one can finish it in a day. The other side of this coin is that it is not an 'easy,' read, not at all. This is because Andrea lays open her pain about her brilliant father's slow march toward death, one of which he is not at all aware. Alzheimer's, Lewy Body Dementia, and Dementia are all thieves of the brain of the patient. They are wretched diseases that actively rob loved ones and friends of what once was; a powerfully painful and tragic journey for all (I know from personal experience.) For her reader, Andrea paints a vivid picture of what "once was" for her, her mother, two sisters, in-laws, grandchildren, colleagues, and former patients. And now she bravely puts on herself the achingly difficult task of sharing what is now for her family. If you have lost someone or are losing someone to any of these diseases, this book will remind you that you are not alone.
August 10, 2023
An emotional side of the daughter when she sees her dad progressing backwards in life from a world renowned surgeon to a dependent patient.
The emotions are raw & heart touching & teaches a lot of life values. I connected so well with the author & felt like I was in her mindspace whilst reading.
Please give it a try... IT'S A REAL EMOTION MEMOIR.
The emotions are raw & heart touching & teaches a lot of life values. I connected so well with the author & felt like I was in her mindspace whilst reading.
Please give it a try... IT'S A REAL EMOTION MEMOIR.
November 17, 2021
Author Andrea Couture has written a moving, bittersweet tribute to her father, a once-brilliant surgeon who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his late 60s. Through flashbacks, you see him honored with prestigious awards and feel the anticipation building as the date of his retirement nears. Finally, he will be able to spend more time with his loving family: his wife, three adult daughters, and grandchildren (with one on the way). Sadly, just as his professional life is winding down, his symptoms of dementia intensify. One year later, he is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
As someone whose mother lived with this dreadful disease for eleven years after diagnosis, I could feel the family’s despair of watching the cognitive and physical decline of someone who had once been a pillar of the family. With many medical decisions to make on his behalf, they pull together, despite long geographical distances. Sometimes hurt feelings surface, such as when the father recognizes one daughter sooner than another. Conflicting priorities also arise, such as when Andrea bears her third child early in her father’s illness. Luckily, she receives a lot of emotional support from her husband and children, as well as sisters, which is enviable.
Despite being a dutiful, devoted daughter, Andrea questions if she’s doing enough to help her ailing father and overwhelmed mother. As she struggles to find the right children vs. parent balance, she searches for and finds a support group to discuss her well of emotions. However, just then the pandemic strikes, not allowing her to attend, nor visit her parents, who live nearby. Andrea’s plans to continue her nursing studies are also thwarted. I wanted to reach inside the book and give her a sympathetic hug.
Despite the weighty subject, there are moments of levity and beauty in this book. I loved the part when Andrea receives about fifty of her father’s ties from her mother, and rather than donating them, she decides to get creative and starts to sew again. After my father died, I did something similar with his shirts.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who has/had a loved one afflicted by Alzheimer’s or has taken on responsibility as a caregiver. I wish I’d had the possibility to read this book years ago when I was also found myself in the throes of making difficult decisions. Andrea’s courageous journey, while heart-wrenching, is also uplifting, and reminds us that even if our loved ones cannot remember, we certainly can. Embracing What Remains celebrates the bonds of familial love that illness cannot destroy.
As someone whose mother lived with this dreadful disease for eleven years after diagnosis, I could feel the family’s despair of watching the cognitive and physical decline of someone who had once been a pillar of the family. With many medical decisions to make on his behalf, they pull together, despite long geographical distances. Sometimes hurt feelings surface, such as when the father recognizes one daughter sooner than another. Conflicting priorities also arise, such as when Andrea bears her third child early in her father’s illness. Luckily, she receives a lot of emotional support from her husband and children, as well as sisters, which is enviable.
Despite being a dutiful, devoted daughter, Andrea questions if she’s doing enough to help her ailing father and overwhelmed mother. As she struggles to find the right children vs. parent balance, she searches for and finds a support group to discuss her well of emotions. However, just then the pandemic strikes, not allowing her to attend, nor visit her parents, who live nearby. Andrea’s plans to continue her nursing studies are also thwarted. I wanted to reach inside the book and give her a sympathetic hug.
Despite the weighty subject, there are moments of levity and beauty in this book. I loved the part when Andrea receives about fifty of her father’s ties from her mother, and rather than donating them, she decides to get creative and starts to sew again. After my father died, I did something similar with his shirts.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who has/had a loved one afflicted by Alzheimer’s or has taken on responsibility as a caregiver. I wish I’d had the possibility to read this book years ago when I was also found myself in the throes of making difficult decisions. Andrea’s courageous journey, while heart-wrenching, is also uplifting, and reminds us that even if our loved ones cannot remember, we certainly can. Embracing What Remains celebrates the bonds of familial love that illness cannot destroy.
July 24, 2021
This was a really difficult book for me to read for two reasons:
The first being it was about a family watching one of its members get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and gradually decline, no longer the person they remembered them as. This happened with my Babcia (grandmother) and I’ve never been able to put into words what we experienced quite like the author did here. You see glimmers of the person they were before the diagnosis, but it’s just not the same. They don’t remember who you are. Many times their personalities change and they become mean or frightened or combative. The toll it takes on the caregivers is really awful and hard for people to understand unless they’ve experienced it themselves.
The second reason was that I know the person who is the main focus of this story- Dr. Gamelli. He was the Burn Director when I started my clinical pharmacy career and I worked closely with him for a couple of years before he retired. I respected him, his mannerisms and leadership of the burn team, his intelligence and knowledge in research and burn practice, his bedside manner, his teaching of surgical residents and students and really all of us. Reading about how that brilliant mind just slipped away these past few years is heartbreaking. I feel for his family, too, who were looking forward to more time with him in his retirement after sharing him with the rest of us for so many years.
July 27, 2021
I want to say I enjoyed this book, but I can't. How can you enjoy a daughter's story of watching her internationally renowned surgeon father descend into the miasma of dementia and Alzheimers? I loved this book. Andrea was looking forward to her father's retirement. A stay at home mom of three young children, she was hoping to spend time with her dad, and get to know him better. But at his retirement party, she noticed he wasn't his usual self, and before too long, it was obvious that his mind was gradually slipping away. This is an honest and revealing account of how a brilliant man was affected by this horrible disease, and the path his family had to follow. How do you share your time between your parents and your children without feeling that you are depriving one or the other? I have friends who have both lost their moms to Alzheimers, so I was fascinated to read the story of how a daughter copes. If you're caring for a family member suffering from Alzheimers or dementia, it may help to read this woman's story. And if you're not, I still recommend you read this heartwarming book.
August 29, 2021
This memoir is a heartfelt, moving recollection by the author of her father’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and her family’s challenges, moments of joy, and coming to terms with the declining health of a great man who once cared for so many.
As any caregiver or family member of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s can relate to, this story teaches us compassion and an appreciation for the time we have left with the ones we love. It also serves as a reminder that even though those afflicted with the disease start to lose their ability to communicate with us, deep down inside they are still the same people we love and remember, and they deserve our respect and dignity as they face their battle courageously.
There were times reading this that I wanted to cry, to smile, and most of all, to appreciate the fragility of life and the importance of having the support of those around us. The author bravely bares her soul in some vulnerable moments in her life, letting us into her inner thoughts in describing the sometimes painful choices we might face. This book is highly recommended for caregivers and family members of those facing Alzheimer’s in a loved one. Beautifully written and impactful. Thank you to the author for sharing your story with us. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one in three adults over age 65 will likely die with Alzheimer’s or other dementia now. This memoir is as much a story about what could be any one us as it is about those we care about.
As any caregiver or family member of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s can relate to, this story teaches us compassion and an appreciation for the time we have left with the ones we love. It also serves as a reminder that even though those afflicted with the disease start to lose their ability to communicate with us, deep down inside they are still the same people we love and remember, and they deserve our respect and dignity as they face their battle courageously.
There were times reading this that I wanted to cry, to smile, and most of all, to appreciate the fragility of life and the importance of having the support of those around us. The author bravely bares her soul in some vulnerable moments in her life, letting us into her inner thoughts in describing the sometimes painful choices we might face. This book is highly recommended for caregivers and family members of those facing Alzheimer’s in a loved one. Beautifully written and impactful. Thank you to the author for sharing your story with us. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one in three adults over age 65 will likely die with Alzheimer’s or other dementia now. This memoir is as much a story about what could be any one us as it is about those we care about.
June 28, 2021
Heartbreaking and vulnerable
This is a heartbreaking and vulnerable story of how difficult it is to navigate the curveballs life throws at us.
I will always remember Dr. Gamelli as an amazing and genuinely caring physician. He will forever be known as the epitome of a compassionate and knowledgeable burn surgeon. Every day of every week he would round on his patients, trust in his nurses, and impart wisdom to anyone who was privileged enough to listen to him speak.
Thank you for allowing us to glimpse into your personal life and for sharing the challenges and struggles that so many family members-turned-caregivers struggle with. You remind us of the fragility of life and how the loving support of family is everything.
This is a heartbreaking and vulnerable story of how difficult it is to navigate the curveballs life throws at us.
I will always remember Dr. Gamelli as an amazing and genuinely caring physician. He will forever be known as the epitome of a compassionate and knowledgeable burn surgeon. Every day of every week he would round on his patients, trust in his nurses, and impart wisdom to anyone who was privileged enough to listen to him speak.
Thank you for allowing us to glimpse into your personal life and for sharing the challenges and struggles that so many family members-turned-caregivers struggle with. You remind us of the fragility of life and how the loving support of family is everything.
July 27, 2021
A beautifully written memoir sharing the tender moments of caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s Disease, and the emotionally journey surrounding it. This book vividly depicts the lessons of life, through the perspective of a care-giving daughter and mother. Well written, and a must read for all those who care for parents, and trying to understand the experience. Thank you for sharing your story Andrea and thank you for bringing to light the lessons you’ve garnered from your experience.
July 2, 2021
Beautiful tribute to a wonderful man
July 4, 2021
Beautiful
So proud of you Andrea from your Memere Couture. This will be so helpful for other people who are living through the same experience.
So proud of you Andrea from your Memere Couture. This will be so helpful for other people who are living through the same experience.
September 20, 2022
"Embracing What Remains," by Andrea Couture, is a beautifully written and deeply felt memoir about coming to terms with loss. But it is also about so much more.
The story centers on the author and her family as they navigate the effects of the devastating illness that afflicts Richard—a loving husband and father, renown surgeon, caregiver and role model. Recently retired from an acclaimed career, he should be entering the so-called “Golden Years” of his life but is diagnosed with dementia and then Alzheimer’s shorty after. The author poignantly describes the challenges and frustration the entire family faces in dealing with this insidious disease. But Andrea’s story is never consumed by the negative. Instead, it is a testament to sacrifice, patience, hope, kindness, and, ultimately, the acceptance that while people may change physically, the spirit and heart that we so love about them remains. A must-read.
The story centers on the author and her family as they navigate the effects of the devastating illness that afflicts Richard—a loving husband and father, renown surgeon, caregiver and role model. Recently retired from an acclaimed career, he should be entering the so-called “Golden Years” of his life but is diagnosed with dementia and then Alzheimer’s shorty after. The author poignantly describes the challenges and frustration the entire family faces in dealing with this insidious disease. But Andrea’s story is never consumed by the negative. Instead, it is a testament to sacrifice, patience, hope, kindness, and, ultimately, the acceptance that while people may change physically, the spirit and heart that we so love about them remains. A must-read.
May 14, 2022
Andrea's memoir is very well written. It is a touching and poignant story of her lived experiences as a sandwich generation member caring for her Alzheimer's afflicted father while raising her own family. Her details of the progression of the disease set side by side with her increased responsibilities for as caretaker is heart warming. You can feel the guilt and conflict she experiences trying to balance her own children's and husband's needs with being a caretaker for her dad and, in many respects, for her mom. Having lived through this indirectly (my father-in-law lived for a few years with dementia and my wife spent several hours several days a week caring for him), I could completely understand the struggles "Drea" felt. But the ultimate message is one of hope - to cherish the moments you have with your loved one, as Andrea titled her book, Embracing What Remains.
August 14, 2021
Embracing What Remains is a beautifully written memoir. The author shares the complexity of family dynamics and emotions from watching her highly intellectual father slip away to Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to her own perspective as a daughter, she also compassionately recognizes the struggle for her mom who adjusts to the shift in roles as married to caregiver, along with the responses of her own young children experiencing visits with their grandfather.
Embracing What Remains is both heart-wrenching and hope-filled. Andrea finds glimpses of “old dad” in “new dad” and through her personal journey she shares how to find strength to grow and be transformed.
I highly recommend this book to anyone impacted by any life-changing health crisis of a loved one.
Embracing What Remains is both heart-wrenching and hope-filled. Andrea finds glimpses of “old dad” in “new dad” and through her personal journey she shares how to find strength to grow and be transformed.
I highly recommend this book to anyone impacted by any life-changing health crisis of a loved one.
June 17, 2022
A truly beautiful, emotional, and meaningful memoir. Couture's story is one that will resonate deeply with readers who have watched someone they love change from Alzheimer's or dementia. But I think everyone can relate in one way or another if we've remained close to our parents as they age. To have to let go of who they used to be and accept their increasing vulnerability - it taps into emotions we've never before experienced and thrusts us into a new phase of our lives. And it hurts. The way Couture shares her journey is a gift to us all, because she expresses so honestly and poignantly in words what most of us can only feel. This is a wonderful book.
October 9, 2022
This memoir pulled at my heart strings and brought me to tears numerous times. You can't help but feel the frustration Andrea and her family are going through once her beloved father is diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
I loved how I was brought into the story with descriptions and analogies. One of my favorite lines was when she wrote...
"We were floating in a sea of fear, and our captain had abandoned ship.'
Not only is it a beautifully written memoir documenting her father's journey, but it is informative. I learned a lot about Alzheimer's that I wasn't aware of.
Do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be disappointed.
I loved how I was brought into the story with descriptions and analogies. One of my favorite lines was when she wrote...
"We were floating in a sea of fear, and our captain had abandoned ship.'
Not only is it a beautifully written memoir documenting her father's journey, but it is informative. I learned a lot about Alzheimer's that I wasn't aware of.
Do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won't be disappointed.
July 7, 2021
Beautifully written memoir about a daughter's emotional journey through her father's diagnosis and decline of Alzheimer's disease. As an LNA I enjoyed seeing it through the perspective of the family and of the individual with the disease, particularly at the diagnosis stage. Thank you for sharing, Andrea.
October 19, 2022
Alzheimer's touches many of us, our family and our friends. In this poignant account of her father's battle with the illness, the author seeks to make sense of the devastating effect it has on herself and her family. At times I was moved to tears as the love and compassion Couture has for her father was clear on every page of this beautiful tribute to his life and his illness.
September 21, 2021
As I finished this memoir and closed the back cover, I was left with the belief that Alzheimers is quite possibly the worst disease in the world. Couture’s heartfelt and beautiful writing style takes you through the battle her family goes through when her father is diagnosed in his late 60’s. The reader will most definitely share the laughs, the fears, and certainly the heartbreaks of her experience. If you don’t shed a few tears reading Embracing What Remains, check the back of your neck for a charging port….you’re most likely a robot.
This book was a tough read for me for all the right reasons, and I’m so glad it found its way into my hands. The medical and technical information about Alzheimer’s is so important to be aware of, and statistics show that most of us will deal with dementia or Alzheimers directly or indirectly at some point in our lives. I feel that Couture’s memoir is a must read for everyone!
I enjoyed this author’s work very much, and hope she writes more. I’d absolutely pick up any piece of literature with Andrea Couture’s name on it. Well done Mrs. Couture, and thank you for sharing your story with the world!
This book was a tough read for me for all the right reasons, and I’m so glad it found its way into my hands. The medical and technical information about Alzheimer’s is so important to be aware of, and statistics show that most of us will deal with dementia or Alzheimers directly or indirectly at some point in our lives. I feel that Couture’s memoir is a must read for everyone!
I enjoyed this author’s work very much, and hope she writes more. I’d absolutely pick up any piece of literature with Andrea Couture’s name on it. Well done Mrs. Couture, and thank you for sharing your story with the world!
October 2, 2024
The deeply personal and intricate nature of facing such a devastating disease is laid bare in this memoir and it truly engages the reader along the way. Couture explores the bittersweet, and intense emotions that arise as she bears witness to the way illness's such as Alzheimer's invade and alter life as we know it. Beautifully told and with humor interwoven, Couture shares her journey with wisdom, humility, grace and deep compassion. We could all benefit form her message: Embrace the small joys. While you do not need a personal connection to Alzheimer's to benefit from this memoir, I would especially encourage those who face the same heartbreaking reality to read this and find hope, empathy, and strength.
October 10, 2021
I was immediately drawn into this beautifully written memoir. Andrea Couture shares the story of how her father, a former well-known surgeon, develops Alzheimer’s at 67. As the daughter of a parent who also developed Alzheimer’s, I related to so much of the emotion in this book and the feeling of being pulled in so many directions. I appreciated how the author gradually learns to balance her grief over the many losses she and her family experience with the gratitude and joy available in each moment. A particularly poignant metaphor about Andrea struggling to sew as she thinks about her father has stayed with me long after finishing the book. A very satisfying read!
December 20, 2021
I finished this a couple of weeks ago and this is one of the few memoirs that will stick with me for quite awhile
This book is Andrea's story of her experience with having a parent who develops Alzheimers. Her dad was a excellent and respected surgeon who started showing signs and was diagnosed with Alzheimers.
I didn't know much about Alzheimers before reading this but it was nice to learn more about it and taught me compassion for it and just humans in general.
You can tell this woman adores her dad and how close they were when this happened and my heart breaks for her and her family. I was in tears by the 3rd page. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review this.
This book is Andrea's story of her experience with having a parent who develops Alzheimers. Her dad was a excellent and respected surgeon who started showing signs and was diagnosed with Alzheimers.
I didn't know much about Alzheimers before reading this but it was nice to learn more about it and taught me compassion for it and just humans in general.
You can tell this woman adores her dad and how close they were when this happened and my heart breaks for her and her family. I was in tears by the 3rd page. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review this.
March 27, 2023
I can’t recall reading a story more honest, powerful, and inspirational than Embracing What Remains. Memoir author Couture describes with unflinching honesty the complex challenges of being a sandwich generation mom caught between the needs of her young children and her brilliant, beloved father diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at a time when he should be enjoying a vigorous retirement. All this and the pandemic as well! It’s emotionally raw, well-written, and ultimately uplifting as the narrator learns acceptance and grows to be a stronger, more selfless person. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2024
As a member of the “sandwich generation,” Andrea was the filling in the middle. She had just given birth to her third children when her father, a renowned surgeon, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. As his abilities slid downhill, she found herself torn between her children and her parents, dealing with grief as her beloved father disappeared and caregiving sapped her mother of her strength and happiness. This is a good book. I’m sure many readers can identify with the author’s situation. It does have a few annoying grammar errors, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the story.
September 17, 2021
EMBRACING WHAT REMAINS is an engaging, heartbreaking, and beautifully written account of how the author and her family navigated her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Andrea deftly weaves in details about her father’s life and paints a picture of their family dynamic which makes the details of what they go through all the more difficult. I related to so much of this book, from aspects of the family to coping with aging/ill parents. I highly recommend reading this one!
October 30, 2021
Reading this book gave me so many flashbacks to my own experience with my father, as he battled early onset dementia. I could relate to so many things in this book. Sadly my father contracted covid and passed, in April 2020. Reading the authors account of covid Easter reminded me of my experience that day, attending my fathers wake. All of her personal stories paralleled many of my life experiences with my dad.
Well done. I hope you write more stories.
Well done. I hope you write more stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews