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quality of life

“The Promise of Tomorrow” by Samantha Tonge

5 out of 5 stars. The Promise of Tomorrow by Samantha Tonge helped me get out of a reading slump… it is such an amazing and reflective read. There are twists and turns throughout the novel. The cast of characters is diverse and the two main characters each have their own private struggles that ultimately help (predictably) them together. But, the personal realizations each one has about things they’ve thought about their life are relatable and honest. It gives the reader a lot to think about. I really enjoyed their growth and was happy with the ending. All in all, I would recommend this novel to everyone who wants to reexamine what’s important to them in life, how they want to live their life and a sweet romance.

Cover of the memoir "A Fatal Inheritance"

“A Fatal Inheritance” by Lawrence Ingrassia

5 out of 5 stars. Very interesting read. The author did a good job of thoroughly describing the scientific history of the area of cancer genetics and how it related to his own family’s experience. The dense science focused chapters were followed by a chapter or two focusing on the author’s family history which helped reinforce the topic’s relevance. I already had an interest in genetics due to my own medical history, but this was fascinating. It also highlighted how complex the human genome is and how long discoveries can take. The author also explored some of the ethical implications and dilemmas from said discoveries (and technologies) which some may not have initially thought about. Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning more about genetics and the role they play in disease development, medical research, etc. 

Cover for the novel The Last Days of You and Me

“The Last Days of You and Me” by Debbie Howells

5 out 5 stars. “The Last Days of You and Me” by Debbie Howells is a heart-wrenching novel featuring a cast of interconnected characters. Each character is going through their own journey related to loss and grief. They each are learning and reflecting about the meaning of life. It highlights the universal need for friendship and love. It makes you think about what is important to you, the reader. I really enjoyed it and hope to read more by this author.

Cover art for Own Your Care by Dr. Jeanne Lee

“Own Your Care” by Jeanne Lee

4 out of 5 stars. Own Your Care by Jeanne Lee, MD Is a comprehensive book for both patients and caregivers covering many aspects of life with a chronic illness. The thing I liked most about the book is that the author focuses on helping the reader explore the idea of quality of life vs quantity of life. This is something that I feel like many people don’t consider enough. The author provides concrete examples of how different people have different ideas of what this means. She also highlights the differences between palliative care and hospice care; encouraging families to explore the help of palliative care specialists which are often underutilized. The book’s chapters are organized in a logical order going from receiving a diagnosis to end of life concerns. The chapters can be read in any order though, depending on where you are in the healthcare journey. Within each chapter are subsections and bolded bullet point questions geared towards both the patient and family members. I like that there is also an appendix listing these questions, a glossary of terms, and resources for further information. My only criticism is that the book is very text-heavy; I wish there was a bit more color in the form of photos, illustrations, charts or diagrams. Anything to help break up the long blocks of text and bullet pointed lists. Overall, I’d’ I recommend this book to both patients and family/friends of those living with chronic or complex health issues.

Official product photo of the Robin Day Clock, an electronic display device showing the current day of the week, time and date

Robin Day Clock

Overall I think the Robin Day Clock is an amazing option for people looking for a simple way to display the current day of the week, time, and date. This is the main function I was looking for when looking at different options. I was looking for something to help orient my grandmother with dementia as she was repeatedly asking us what time it was, day it was etc. I liked that the display itself was large and could be customized to some degree. It’s possible to change the color schemes / contrast themes. I also LOVED that there is a button on the clock that announces the day and time. Finally, a feature that is neat but one we don’t use is the ability to add custom reminders and events. These can be a one time thing like a doctor appointment or recurring like a birthday, holiday, or therapy appointment. 

Cover art for the book Living in the Moment by Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk and Heather Milar

“Living in the Moment” by Elizabeth Landsverk

4 out of 5 stars. Living in the Moment: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias by Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk is an easy to read, practical guide for the family navigating this journey and focuses on helping to create the best life you can for your loved one with dementia. While I am not the primary caregiver for my loved I still found it really informative. The book isn’t super depth but goes just deep enough to serve as a good reference, especially when it comes to understanding the types of medications your loved one may be taking or offered. The caveat is since I’m not a pharmacist, physician, or other type of provider I can’t say with 100% certainty that all the information is correct. I would hope so given that the author is a physician specializing in this field but you never know. Therefore it’s always best to talk with your own care team when making decisions about medications (and procedures, tests etc.). Something that I really liked about the book is the author emphasized making decisions with (and when needed, for) your loved one that essentially boils down improving or maintaining quality vs quantity of life.