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Before the Door Closes: A Daughter's Journey with Her Alcoholic Father
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Mind-altering drugs shackle her father to dementia. As if it were a holding pen for rotting trash, authorities in the nursing home system dispensed him to that dark cell.
For the second time in their lives, Judy desperately searches for the answer to free her father. While growing up in an alcoholic environment, she struggled to find what drove him to drink. She was sure if ...more
For the second time in their lives, Judy desperately searches for the answer to free her father. While growing up in an alcoholic environment, she struggled to find what drove him to drink. She was sure if ...more
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I could not put the book down. Judith wrote put her heart in this book, and her ability as a writer made it a joy to read. The fact this book is real, that it is her memoirs, makes it valuable at an extra level. What would be simply superbly written realistic fiction, -had the book not been based on her reality-, became a testimony of her life, and a most vivid account of the cares and joys the elderly bring to their families, and the challenges they face at hospitals and nursing homes.
Judith kn ...more
Judith kn ...more
I found this story touching and so revealing in its honest, forthright manner. I wish I had read it before my own mum became ill, it is a book all middle aged children should read as it is full of practical advice on how to cope and how to deal with problems that most of us will face at one point or another. It is written as though Judith is talking to us. She doesn't look for sympathy but is very factual about certain events that happened while she was growing up. We don't get pages upon pages
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It seems wrong to say I enjoyed reading, "Before the Door Closes". What kind of person am I that I would enjoy reading about someone else's pain. Truthfully, what I enjoyed was Judith's style of writing. As I began reading the Introduction I felt as if I was being invited in to observe her journey. However, I found out it wasn't enough to observe. My mind and my heart became involved as I read about her, her father, her family and the medical community. I hurt for the child who lived with alcoho ...more
The best writers do more than communicate. They transport us into their world. Mrs. Simon has that very rare gift. I am thankful that she chose to share it with all of us. This was an eye-opening book into the hidden world of caring for the elderly and the shame that comes with a family member struggling with alcoholism. Her daily struggle to get a nursing homes in a major metropolitan area to maintain even basic care of her father was heart-wrenching and shocking. The de-valuing of life in our
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I was super excited to read this book, because it was written by my BFF’ mom, Mrs. Simon. It was truly touching to see her journey with her dad and learn about her resilience, love and commitment which was strengthen by the power of the Christ. Her battle against nursing home’s neglect and abuse MUST be brought out to the WORLD and there need to be a huge social reform regarding how to take care of elderly in this society. In the end, Mr. Hall is a blessed man because he had her as his beloved d
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