Lynne Farrell Abrams has a bachelor’s degree in communication, but credits luck for allowing her to work many years as a writer and editor. She grew up in an age where computers were in their infancy as tools for sharing one’s thoughts. Instead, she relied upon a tape recorder and a secretary to transcribe material onto the printed page. As technology advanced, Ms. Abrams sought out freelance opportunities, relocating from Upstate New York, to Chicago, to the Twin Cities, and finally to Florida. When she met her husband, Peter, she had begun submitting articles to the Citrus County Chronicle. Eventually, with the onset of her husband’s illness, she was given her “Laflines” columns to articulate her thoughts. She explains that the heading, “Laflines”, came from her initials, Lynne Angela Farrell (Abrams). With her husband’s passing from Lewy Body Dementia, Ms. Abrams continues writing to draw attention to the challenges any caregiver faces when dealing with the chronic illness of a loved one. She resides in Hernando, Florida with her beautiful, thoroughly spoiled calico, Rapunzel.
Shadows in the Sand
My "Long Goodbye" to my Husband, Peter
by Lynne Farrell Abrams
Shadows in the Sand
My "Long Goodbye" to my Husband, Peter
by Lynne Farrell Abrams
Published Sep 17, 2024
175 Pages
Genre: SELF-HELP / Death, Grief, Bereavement
Book Details
A year and a half from diagnosis to death. A blink of an eye or an eternity. Lewy Body Dementia inflicted its insidious symptoms, slowly, then suddenly as the author could do nothing to stem its progression.
The grief journey can be a lonely one, especially if it is embarked upon without a large base of support. Much has already been written about the need to not rush the process of grief. The author has chosen to share her grief journey, partly to unburden herself, but equally, to offer strength to others. In the case of losing a loved one to Lewy Body Dementia, the grief journey becomes what has often been termed, “a long goodbye.” It is a painful process watching one’s loved one succumb to the insidious symptoms this particular disease exacts. As much as one attempts to slow the progression of the disease through medication and therapy, the end itself is unavoidable. As much as one involves oneself in the care of a loved one, the end can still startle and leave the caregiver bereft. This is what happened here. Ms. Abrams takes the reader along on her journey with the hope of bringing to light how eventually, one can find the strength to endure.