Smith - Broken beauty: piecing together lives shattered by early onset Alzheimers

PRAISE FOR SARAH SMITH AND BROKEN BEAUTY

So many of us have been touched by the ripple effect of a loved one being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease or dementia. Broken Beauty is a story of fighting for a life given a terminal diagnosis, living one day and moment at a time, and proof that with God, anything is possible. Sarahs journey, outlined in these pages, brings hope and light to what, from a distance, might seem hopeless and dark. Love always wins.

Michael W. Smith, Singer/Songwriter

There are few subjects that compel us to look into the broken heart of human existence as this one does. But this marvelous book shows that it is precisely because of this that our deepest need for Godand His willingness to meet that needcan also be gloriously revealed, if we are willing.

Eric Metaxas, New York Times best-selling author of Bonhoeffer and Miracles, and nationally syndicated radio host

A beautifully written book by Sarah Smith. Having lost my mom to Alzheimers many years ago, it was as if I were living my own journey all over again. It touched all the same emotions that Im sure every son or daughter has gone through with a loved one. A step-by-step story of a tragic disease and how the good Lord carried this family through it.

Lee Majors, film and television actor of The Big Valley, The Six Million Dollar Man, and The Fall Guy

In a culture where our value is measured by our looks, our income, and our talent, we need reminders of the beauty of sacrificial love and the truth of the inherent worth every human has because they are made in Gods image. Broken Beauty is a reminder that is beautifully written and full of grace and truth.

John Stonestreet, president, the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview

Broken Beauty provides a rare, authentic look into the challenges and triumphs of a family walking the journey with Alzheimers disease. The story speaks to the need for a community of support, compassionate and competent professionals, and eyes that continue to see and embrace beauty in the midst of a challenging diagnosis.

Audette Rackley, MS/CCC-SLP, Head of Special Programs at The University of Texas at Dallas, Center for BrainHealth, and author of I Can Still Laugh: Stories of Inspirationand Hope from People Living with Alzheimers

Heartfelt, heartbreaking, ultimately hopeful, Broken Beauty is the kind of book you buy for friends and then a week later, get together and talk about it over a cappuccino.

Ron Hall, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Same Kind of Different as Me, and producer and writer of the Paramount film of the same name

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Some names and identifying characteristics referenced in this book have been changed to protect their privacy.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press

Austin, Texas

www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2019 Sarah Smith

All rights reserved.

Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100.

Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance

Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance

Cover bowl photograph: Shutterstock / Zapylaiev Kostiantyn

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-597-3

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-598-0

Part of the Tree Neutral program, which off sets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

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First Edition

This book is dedicated to caregivers of every shape and form, professional or not. This disease doesnt just belong to the person who has been afflicted. It is your disease also. You face it with dignity and grace, and you enhance the quality of life as you do. Your hearts are full of love, and you do whatever it takes to make our loved ones feel safe. You are patient, courageous, strong, selfless, compassionate, and tolerant. You are the real heroes, and to me, you are our earthly angels.

To Mom and Dad, who have been married fifty-two years and whose love continues to grow stronger.

Those who abandon ship the first time it enters a storm miss the calm beyond. And the rougher the storms weathered together, the deeper and stronger real love grows. Ruth Bell Graham

And to my loving husband, Thad, and our three children: Frensley, Emery, and Elijah. You gave me the courage to believe in myself and gifted me the opportunity to spend more time with Beauty and Pop so that I could strive to be the best daughter possible. Thank you for your support in sharing our story with the world.

Foreword by Ron Hall

RECENTLY, I DISCOVERED THAT MY friend Sarah and I are the same kind of different.

She may disagree, but I dont believe God put us here on earth to be authors. Storytellers perhaps. We were traveling down similar paths of two distinctly separate yet beautiful lives when life began to look not so beautiful. But through brokenness, great stories are birthed, and when put on the page, are like salve for sore heartsstories that bless untold millions and give hope to even more. Broken Beauty is such a story.

I love the title. It intrigues me and causes me to search for the deeper meaning behind the two simple words. Hopefully, as you dive into this story, which is much deeper than wide, youll agree. However, in full disclosure, Ill admit that the title came to me in quiet, prayerful, and reflective moments after reading Sarahs manuscript. I reluctantly shared it.

As you join Sarah and her family on their journey to love and care for Beauty, your heart, like mine, will become velcroed to theirs. Page by page, together we find love, compassion, and ultimately hope and reassurance from the faith we share. The trials are many, and the victories fewbut so, so sweet.

By now, most everyone has been affected by Alzheimers disease. I know it well, as my late wife, Debbie, and I cared for both her parents, who suffered nearly ten years with Alzheimers. The arrest, the trials, the tragedies, and the indignities were heartbreaking, as they never realized what happened to their beautiful world. They didnt even remember who they were. The victory in their case was to die just one week apart in their mid-eighties. Theirs was not