Blog Archives
Keep Hope & Embrace Resilience
In I Didn’t See It Coming, you share with readers both the highs and lows of your journey dealing with your husband’s diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia and the hope you found on the other side. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The reason was two-fold: It was written to help others find the answers to dealing with Lewy body dementia in one place, and at the same time, it was cathartic for me to share my life as a caregiver beginning at the age of 10.
I appreciate the candid nature with which you tell your story. What was the most difficult thing for you to write about?
When I was going through the caregiving experience for my beloved husband Nicky Zann, I would keep a monthly log for the doctors so that everyone understood how this disease was progressing and what it was doing to our lives. When the journey ended, I never thought that I would ever go back to those notes. In transcribing them for the book and further adding a commentary on the emotional changes in a relationship each month, I found myself typing with tears streaming down my face as I relived the journey.
What is one misconception you feel many people may have regarding caring for loved ones with dementia?
The biggest misconception in my opinion is that your loved one is “out of it” and doesn’t understand what’s happening. I contend that, while not always able to respond, your loved one does understand and appreciates the loving touch, the kind tone or voice, and the words ‘I love you.’
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your experiences?
You are NOT ALONE on your journey; please keep hope and embrace resilience!
Author Website
I Didn’t See It Coming
In I Didn’t See It Coming, Mary Lou Falcone shares her life journey. This memoir narrates how she navigated love, loss, and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). From caring for her speech-impaired father at 10 to becoming the main support for her husband Nicky Zann, who had LBD, Mary Lou’s story is filled with not only highs and lows but also hope and laughter. The book offers practical insights into dealing with LBD, and it includes thoughts from friends and family. It’s a stirring story of how Mary Lou faced tough times and found strength amid life’s challenges.
This page-turner unveils pivotal moments in the life of the author. What Falcone has so adeptly achieved with this book is subtlety transitioning the story from a captivating coming-of-age story to an insightful guide on how to care for a loved one with Lewy Body Dementia. This is dexterously done to blend with the exploration of her romantic life over the years. Yet, the alternation between perspectives from the author and other individuals with their own accounts never felt out of place.
No truer statement than this captured in the book describes I Didn’t See It Coming better than “The pendulum swings; it just doesn’t make any local stops.” Mary Lou Falcone’s life has been one of pendulum swings. Motion is dampened every now and then by good fortune, luck, laughter, love, and difficult times. Yet, an unmistakable take-home from all of them is Falcone’s great strength of character.
Falcone’s ability to couple storytelling with insightful observations makes this book not only a literary gem but also a mirror reflecting the complexities of debilitating diseases such as dementia. The art illustrations by Nicky Zann, Falcone’s now-late husband, add a visual layer to the entire journey. I Didn’t See It Coming by Mary Lou Falcone is a poignant exploration of what patience and love can achieve in a world of pendulums that don’t stop swinging.
Pages: 304 | ISBN : 978-1734526899
LITERARY TITAN 