Leaving Eden: An Alzheimer’s Journey by Annette H. Sharp

Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death, in the top ten in America that cannot be prevented or cured. Some caregivers make the decision to care for their parent at home. This is a difficult and potentially overwhelming task. Leaving Eden documents a five-year journey of a family make decisions and caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s at home.

Annette Sharp’s extensive career in public and non-profit organizations did little to prepare her for the caregiver role for her Mother. Perhaps being the oldest of seven children did. Identifying herself as a life-long learner, Annette researched Alzheimer’s disease, the protocols, the medications, and the expanded list of behaviors. She regularly attended caregiver meetings in preparation for and during the five-year journey with her Mom. Ever the realist, Annette credits a sense of humor as the single, most-important tool in life and certainly on this journey. Leaving Eden is a compilation of all of these things as well as a composite story of the struggles of caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.