I Will Never Forget: A Daughter’s Story of Her Mother’s Arduous and Humorous Journey through Dementia - Softcover

IT IS PAINFULLY DIFFICULT to watch loved ones decline as dementia ravages their mind, destroying memories, rational thinking, and judgment. In her touching memoir, I Will Never Forget, Elaine Pereira shares the heartbreaking and humorous story of her mother’s incredible journey through dementia.

Pereira begins with entertaining glimpses into her own childhood and feisty teenage years, demonstrating her mother’s strength of character. Years later, as Betty Ward started to exhibit bizarre behaviors and paranoia, Pereira was mystified by her mom’s amazing ability to mask the truth. Not until a revealing incident over an innocuous drapery rod did Pereira recognize the extent of her mother’s Alzheimer’s. As their roles shifted and a new paradigm emerged, Pereira transformed into a caregiver, blindly navigating dementia’s unpredictable haze. But before Betty’s passing, she orchestrated a stunning rally to control her own destiny via a masterful, Houdini-like escape.

I Will Never Forget is a powerful heartwarming story that helps others know that they are not alone in their journey.

“Poignant, shocking, and honest ... far more than just words on paper. If you or someone you know is living through the hell of dementia, you need this book!”
–Ionia Martin, developer of Readful Things Reviews and Alzheimer’s caregiver

ELAINE C. PEREIRA is a retired school occupational therapist who worked with special needs children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University, and later completed her master’s degree. Pereira and her husband live in southeastern Michigan with their cat, Snoopy, and two dogs, Bailey and Maddee.