Somebody I Used to Know : A Memoir

**“A brave and illuminating journey inside the mind, heart, and life of a person with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.”—Lisa Genova, author of __Still Alice__** Wendy Mitchell had a busy job with the British National Health Service, raised her two daughters alone, and spent her weekends running and climbing mountains. Then, slowly, a mist settled deep inside the mind she once knew so well, blurring the world around her. She didn’t know it then, but dementia was starting to take hold. In 2014, at age fifty-eight, she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s. In this groundbreaking book, Mitchell shares the heartrending story of her cognitive decline and how she has fought to stave it off. What lay ahead of her after the diagnosis was scary and unknowable, but Mitchell was determined and resourceful, and she vowed to outwit the disease for as long as she could. As Mitchell learned to embrace her new life, she began to see her condition as a gift, a chance to experience the world with fresh eyes and to find her own way to make a difference. Even now, her sunny outlook persists: She devotes her time to educating doctors, caregivers, and other people living with dementia, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding this insidious disease. Still living independently, Mitchell now uses Post-it notes and technology to remind her of her routines and has created a “memory room” where she displays photos—with labels—of her daughters, friends, and special places. It is a room where she feels calm and happy, especially on days when the mist descends. A chronicle of one woman’s struggle to make sense of her shifting world and her mortality, __Somebody I Used to Know__ offers a powerful rumination on memory, perception, and the simple pleasure of living in the moment. Philosophical, poetic, intensely personal, and ultimately hopeful, this moving memoiris both a tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell used to be and a brave affirmation of the woman she has become.**Advance praise for __Somebody I Used to Know__** “__Somebody I Used to Know__ is both an indispensable guide for people grappling with the consequences of a dementia diagnosis and a stirring account of courage in the face of devastating loss.”**—__Booklist__ (starred review)** “This is an eloquent and poignant book. Those of us who have gone on the heartbreaking journey of losing a loved one to dementia have wondered what they were feeling. Wendy Mitchell’s courageous and unflinching account lets us know.”**—Patti Davis, author of __The Long Goodbye__** “A brave and illuminating journey inside the mind, heart, and life of a person with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.”—Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice Wendy Mitchell had a busy job with the British National Health Service, raised her two daughters alone, and spent her weekends running and climbing mountains. Then, slowly, a mist settled deep inside the mind she once knew so well, blurring the world around her. She didn’t know it then, but dementia was starting to take hold. In 2014, at age fifty-eight, she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s. In this groundbreaking book, Mitchell shares the heartrending story of her cognitive decline and how she has fought to stave it off. What lay ahead of her after the diagnosis was scary and unknowable, but Mitchell was determined and resourceful, and she vowed to outwit the disease for as long as she could. As Mitchell learned to embrace her new life, she began to see her condition as a gift, a chance to experience the world with fresh eyes and to find her own way to make a difference. Even now, her sunny outlook persists: She devotes her time to educating doctors, caregivers, and other people living with dementia, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding this insidious disease. Still living independently, Mitchell now uses Post-it notes and technology to remind her of her routines and has created a “memory room” where she displays photos—with labels—of her daughters, friends, and special places. It is a room where she feels calm and happy, especially on days when the mist descends. A chronicle of one woman’s struggle to make sense of her shifting world and her mortality, Somebody I Used to Know offers a powerful rumination on memory, perception, and the simple pleasure of living in the moment. Philosophical, poetic, intensely personal, and ultimately hopeful, this moving memoir is both a tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell used to be and a brave affirmation of the woman she has become. Advance praise for Somebody I Used to Know “ Somebody I Used to Know is both an indispensable guide for people grappling with the consequences of a dementia diagnosis and a stirring account of courage in the face of devastating loss.” — Booklist (starred review) “This is an eloquent and poignant book. Those of us who have gone on the heartbreaking journey of losing a loved one to dementia have wondered what they were feeling. Wendy Mitchell’s courageous and unflinching account lets us know.” —Patti Davis, author of The Long Goodbye "A brave and illuminating journey inside the mind, heart, and life of a person with early-onset Alzheimer's disease."?Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice Wendy Mitchell had a busy job with the British National Health Service, raised her two daughters alone, and spent her weekends running and climbing mountains. Then, slowly, a mist settled deep inside the mind she once knew so well, blurring the world around her. She didn't know it then, but dementia was starting to take hold. In 2014, at age fifty-eight, she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer's. In this groundbreaking book, Mitchell shares the heartrending story of her cognitive decline and how she has fought to stave it off. What lay ahead of her after the diagnosis was scary and unknowable, but Mitchell was determined and resourceful, and she vowed to outwit the disease for as long as she could. As Mitchell learned to embrace her new life, she began to see her condition as a gift, a chance to experience the world with fresh eyes and to find her own way to make a difference. Even now, her sunny outlook persists: She devotes her time to educating doctors, caregivers, and other people living with dementia, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding this insidious disease. Still living independently, Mitchell now uses Post-it notes and technology to remind her of her routines and has created a "memory room" where she displays photos?with labels?of her daughters, friends, and special places. It is a room where she feels calm and happy, especially on days when the mist descends. A chronicle of one woman's struggle to make sense of her shifting world and her mortality, Somebody I Used to Know offers a powerful rumination on memory, perception, and the simple pleasure of living in the moment. Philosophical, poetic, intensely personal, and ultimately hopeful, this moving memoir is both a tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell used to be and a brave affirmation of the woman she has become. Advance praise for Somebody I Used to Know "This is an eloquent and poignant book. Those of us who have gone on the heartbreaking journey of losing a loved one to dementia have wondered what they were feeling. Wendy Mitchell's courageous and unflinching account lets us know."?Patti Davis, author of The Long Goodbye "I am so impressed with Wendy Mitchell's attitude and ability to explain her experience?she is both an inspiration and a guide."?Michael Palin “A brave and illuminating journey inside the mind, heart, and life of a person with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.”—Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice Wendy Mitchell had a busy job with the British National Health Service, raised her two daughters alone, and spent her weekends running and climbing mountains. Then, slowly, a mist settled deep inside the mind she once knew so well, blurring the world around her. She didn’t know it then, but dementia was starting to take hold. In 2014, at age fifty-eight, she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s. In this groundbreaking book, Mitchell shares the heartrending story of her cognitive decline and how she has fought to stave it off. What lay ahead of her after the diagnosis was scary and unknowable, but Mitchell was determined and resourceful, and she vowed to outwit the disease for as long as she could. As Mitchell learned to embrace her new life, she began to see her condition as a gift, a chance to experience the world with fresh eyes and to find her own way to make a difference. Even now, her sunny outlook persists: She devotes her time to educating doctors, caregivers, and other people living with dementia, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding this insidious disease. Still living independently, Mitchell now uses Post-it notes and technology to remind her of her routines and has created a “memory room” where she displays photos—with labels—of her daughters, friends, and special places. It is a room where she feels calm and happy, especially on days when the mist descends. A chronicle of one woman’s struggle to make sense of her shifting world and her mortality, Somebody I Used to Know offers a powerful rumination on memory, perception, and the simple pleasure of living in the moment. Philosophical, poetic, intensely personal, and ultimately hopeful, this moving memoir is both a tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell used to be and a brave affirmation of the woman she has become. Praise for Somebody I Used to Know “Remarkable . . . Mitchell gives such clear-eyed insight that anyone who knows a person living with dementia should read this book.” — The Times (London) “A landmark book . . . The best reward for [Mitchell’s] courage and candour would surely be fundamental changes in the way people with dementia are treated by society.” —Financial Times A Memoir By A Former British National Heath Service Employee And Single Parent Describes Her Battles With Early Onset Alzheimer's, The Management Techniques She Has Developed To Maintain Her Independence, And Her Efforts To Make Sense Of Her Shifting World. A Rare Glimpse Into What It Feels Like To Experience Alzheimer's Firsthand, An Unforgettable Chronicle Of Optimism And One Woman's Unique Ways Of Coping, Despite Her Decline. 'i Know It Wasn't Always Like This. I Know There Was Another Me.' Wendy Mitchell Had A Busy Job With The British National Health Service, Raised Her Two Daughters Alone, And Spent Her Weekends Running And Climbing Mountains. Then, Slowly, A Mist Settled Deep Inside The Mind She Once Knew So Well, Blurring The World Around Her. She Didn't Know It Then, But Dementia Was Starting To Take Hold. In 2014, At Age Fifty-eight, She Was Diagnosed With Young-onset Alzheimer's. In This Groundbreaking Book, Mitchell Shares The Heartrending Story Of Her Cognitive Decline And How She Has Fought To Stave It Off. What Lay Ahead Of Her After The Diagnosis Was Scary And Unknowable, But Mitchell Was Determined And Resourceful, And She Vowed To Outwit The Disease For As Long As She Could. As Mitchell Learned To Embrace Her New Lif E, She Began To See Her Condition As A Gift, A Chance To Experience The World With Fresh Eyes And To Find Her Own Way To Make A Difference. Even Now, Her Sunny Outlook Persists: She Devotes Her Time To Educating Doctors, Caregivers, And Other People Living With Dementia, Helping To Reduce The Stigma Surrounding This Insidious Disease. Still Living Independently, Mitchell Now Uses Post-it Notes And Technology To Remind Her Of Her Routines And Has Created A 'memory Room' Where She Displays Photos--with Labels--of Her Daughters, Friends, And Special Places. It Is A Room Where She Feels Calm And Happy, Especially On Days When The Mist Descends. A Chronicle Of One Woman's Struggle To Make Sense Of Her Shifting World And Her Mortality, [this Book] Offers A Powerful Rumination On Memory, Perception, And The Simple Pleasure Of Living In The Moment. Philosophical, Poetic, Intensely Personal, And Ultimately Hopeful, This Moving Memoir Is Both A Tribute To The Woman Wendy Mitchell Used To Be And A Brave Affirmation Of The Woman She Has Become.--jacket. Wendy Mitchell, With Anna Wharton. One of the first-ever glimpses of what it feels like to experience Alzheimer's firsthand—a literary nonfiction version of Still Alice —an unforgettable chronicle of optimism and one woman's unique ways of coping, despite her inevitable decline. Wendy Mitchell had a busy job with the British National Health Service, raised her two daughters alone, and spent her weekends running and climbing mountains. And then, slowly, a mist settled deep inside the mind she once knew so well, blurring the world around her. She didn't know it then, but dementia was starting to take hold. In 2014, at age 59, Wendy was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. What lay ahead was scary and unknowable, but she was determined and resourceful and she vowed to outwit the disease for as long as she could. Still living independently, Wendy used post-it notes to remind her of her routines and created a "memory room" where she displays photos—with labels—of her...