Goodnight, Sweet: A Caregiver's Long Goodbye

by Leah Stanley

ABOUT THE She was twenty-nine years old. She had been married a mere eight months. Suddenly her precious grandparents needed her help. Equipped only with the documents provided by their lawyer, Leah Stanley navigated Medicare and Medicaid in the dark of ignorance, working her way along the tangled path of providing care for her Grandma and Grandpa who were suffering with Alzheimer’s and an unspecified form of dementia, respectively. In Goodnight, Sweet, Leah explores the world of elder care where she found that making the right decision on behalf of someone else was not always an obvious choice, and along the way she discovered that not every family member shared her vision of loving the people who needed care but were instead dazzled by the notion of inheritance. At times she was able to stand on nothing more than faith in Jesus Christ, but Leah moved through one difficult day after another, until finally she was able to look back and realize that Jesus had stayed exactly where He said He would—carrying her through the dark waters so that she could survive the indescribable world of a caregiver. ABOUT THE Leah Stanley was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and has a background in corporate communications and freelance writing. She met her husband, Chris, during her freshman year. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, son, daughter, and their boxer/beagle rescue dog, Brooke.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2019

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not yet dealt with a loved one going through Alzheimer’s or Dementia, however, if I ever do, this book will become my resting place. Her book and other resources are invaluable to caregivers.

Leah writes with such a genuine spirit, hoping to lift some of the burden of caregivers walking this road.

She constantly points to her unmoving trust in Jesus, the grace God provided her, and how much she relied on the Lord to sustain her through this difficult time. She even adds some humor into her writing, reminding readers that with the Lord, peace surpasses all understanding, even to the degree of being able to laugh in the midst of such a hardship.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, anyone in the healthcare industry who works in this area, and anyone who is coming alongside a friend or family member who is caring for a loved one in this way.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is utterly relatable and thoroughly captivating. I couldn't put it down. It feels like it could be anyone's story and yet it is also uniquely Leah's story. I felt as if I was journeying with Leah as she navigated the cruelties of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. As you read this book, your heart will break and your heart will be warmed in equal measure. You will come to appreciate the deep affection captured within the simple goodnight routine on which the title of the book is based. You will love certain characters such as Mack who demonstrates humility, compassion and sacrifice to help a family in need. And you will be shocked and dismayed by the uncaring, self-serving actions of others. It's a book of contrasts where the best and worst of humanity come together. Beauty is found in the midst of tragic circumstances.

The emotional turmoil and faith challenge that Leah courageously shares provides you a window into the heart and soul of a Christian caregiver. It also reflects the tenacity of the human spirit, the power of love, and sustaining nature of a personal relationship with God. Leah's new normal is anything but normal and yet, in the midst of all the stress and frustration, peace emerges.

This is a story that demanded to be told and deserves to be read by anyone who serves as a caregiver, knows someone who is a caregiver, or wants to improve their ability to relate to individuals in either of those categories. The support system that Leah had was pivotal to her being able to navigate this path. As such, we can learn a lot about how to come alongside others who are traversing hardships that we can scarcely imagine. I encourage you to not only read this book but to also allow it to challenge your own response to the tragedies that befall others. Adopt it as a book club or small group reading, discuss it with friends, and strengthen the net that some many have fallen through in the past.