Nothing Left to Burn. This item is unavailable.Nothing Left to Burn

"Where is our house?" Those four words alerted me to a problem that would dramatically change my husband's life as well as my own. Being a Clinical Psycholigist, I recognized early on the initial synptoms of Alzheimer's desease. I began to journal my experiences; thus the genesis for this book. Readers will learn how early mental "slips" are but the precursor to a disease which pummels the brain and shreds its connections. Few people understand that the very nature of the brain destruction takes the loved one away from the caregiver long before the body succumbs to death. I struggled to let go of the man I married while, at the same time, commit my energy and services to a man I no longer knew. NOTHING LEFT TO BURN vividly and graphically uses dialogue to demonstrate the withering away of Charlie. He taught doctoral students at major universities. While most friends and family will tell the caregiver to "Be sure to take care of yourself now," most have no clue as to how subtly Alzheimer's disease sucks in the caregiver and strips him or her of most all other identities. Most caregivers have little comprehension of the decisions we must make to save ourselves while maintaining our devotion to our spouses. NOTHING LEFT TO BURN is based on a true story which will eventually have a resolution. For now, it is my wish to help others find an understanding of the day-to-day reality of the disease and to aid potential caregivers in making informed decisions regarding their own wellbeing.

Dr. Karen Hutchins Pirnot is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who has treated children and their families for decades. While in private practice in Iowa, she worked extensively with the Department of Human Services and the Juvenile Justice System. After her move to Florida, Dr. Pirnot worked in private private practice and contracted to long term care facilities to assess and treat various forms of dementia. Many of Dr. Pirnot’s book characters are patterned after traits of the children treated in her practice. She stresses instilling a sense of efficacy in children. Adult characters are viewed as resourceful and capable of making life-changing decisions. In the course of becoming an Alzheimer’s caregiver, Dr. Pirnot utilized many of the same interventions that help children toward a better quality of life. The author currently resides in Sarasota, Florida with her adult children and her grandchildren.