Alzheimer’s is a disease that has affected my family. Both our father and grandmother died from it. When Leanna approached me about a guest blog I jumped at the idea. Check out her post. Thanks Leanna for being here today!
God Makes NO Mistakes
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s almost fifteen years ago. It gradually stole away everything that made her who she was, turning the intelligent, creative, loving woman I knew into a stranger who looked like her, but wasn’t. I’d like to share one of my most precious memories of her.
Two Februarys before she passed, we went to my parents’ house to celebrate my husband and my daddy’s birthdays. Yes, two of my favorite men share the same birthdate. After supper, Mama was talking—mostly nonsensical stuff—with my husband, but she kept repeating, “Our God makes NO mistakes,” always emphasizing the word, “no.” She must’ve said it fifty times. I remember thinking, “Yeah, but what about this terrible disease that’s destroying your mind, stealing your memories, turning everyone who loves you into strangers in your head?”
Our God makes NO mistakes.
I continued my argument. But this has to be a mistake. Why would God allow this in our family? Why would God put my Daddy through this? Watching the woman he’s loved for 60 years turn into a child? Aging him more than time ever could?
Our God makes NO mistakes… the words whisper along the corridors of my mind even now.
I “fictionalized” this scene—and many others—in my new suspense novel, Hush, by creating a character with Alzheimer’s so I could use some of the things Mama said and did in the story. Writing Hush was a sort of therapy for me; a way to get rid of some of the pain, and anger and frustration that went along with watching my mother turn into a stranger. In her memory, I’ve decided to donate my royalties to Alzheimer’s research. It’s my prayer that it will help them find a cure so that other families won’t have to go through what my family did.
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Bio
Leanna Sain, earned her BA from the University of South Carolina, before moving back to the mountains of western NC. Her Southern suspense or “GRIT-lit,” showcases her plot-driven method that successfully rolls elements of best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, and Jan Karon all together, making it her own. She loves leading discussion groups and book clubs. For more information or to contact her, visit: www.LeannaSain.com
Thank you, Darlene, for hosting me on your blog. I hope this might inspire your readers to get their own copy of Hush (and write a review when they finish it!) It’s my hope that together we can help them find that cure!
Hi Leanna! You’re very welcome. Yes, a cure would be AWESOME! Both my father and grandmother had Alzheimer’s. It such a terrible disease. Thanks for being her on my blog today!