Determined to Get a Life

Book excerpt: In this candid story, this author asks one of life’s essential questions: How do we go on when our hearts are broken? Book One of Determined to Get a Life tells the story of Ken and his wife Lesley, her journey through dementia and eventual death, and Ken’s journey as her husband and caregiver. In Book Two, Ken confronts his grief and the tangle of questions he’s left with after Lesley’s death. With the knowledge that many elderly, bereaved spouses give up on life after the loss of their loved one, Ken is determined to find a way to go on. His path forward emerges as he regularly visits Spirit Island Park, a place he used to enjoy with Lesley. There, he engages with nature and people and rediscovers his will to live. Included in Book Two is a rich collection of short stories—some written by Lesley, some by Ken, and some by Ken and Lesley together—introducing a colourful cast of characters and exploring topics such as loneliness, illness, addiction, and spirituality. At its core, Determined to Get a Life is a message of hope to anyone suffering darkness and despair in dementia’s wake. With lucidity and strength of character, Ken sets out to prove that it’s possible to connect once more with the beautiful world, to find peace, and live a purposeful life.