Nancy R. Poland - Dancing with Lewy: A Father-Daughter Dance, Before and After Lewy Body Dementia Came to Live With Us

Nancy Poland was fortunate to grow up with a father who was truly one of the greats of the Greatest Generation, yet she shares the misfortune of so many: loving a parent who succumbed to the elusive and inescapable effects of Lewy Body dementia. In these pages she shares her familys struggles and triumphs and illuminates the path so others can better navigate the vagaries of American dementia care.

Judy Cornish, Esq.,Founder of the Dementia & Alzheimers Wellbeing Network (DAWN) and the DAWN Method, Author of The Dementia Handbook and Dementia With Dignity, Living Well with Alzheimers or Dementia Using the DAWN Method

This compassionate and resource heavy book will be a beacon to families living with Lewy Body Dementia. Ms. Polands insights as a daughter are invaluable. The details of the progression of the disease may be helpful for others walking this path. An important light into a rarely understood disorder.

Diane W. Carr, Masters in Public Health, Patient Navigator, retired, Be The Match / National Marrow Donor Program

Dancing with Lewy offers practical advice to caregivers, who have to deal with myriad of personal, medical, financial, and legal issues. Nancy clearly stated the importance of maintaining the oral hygiene of patients suffering from diseases such as Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinsons. As a dentist who has treated patients suffering from dementia and Parkinsons, I totally agree. A healthy, disease free oral cavity is an important component of optimal whole-body wellbeing. Also, Nancy Poland stresses the importance that the caregivers have to take care of themselves to be effective.

Eugene G Dvoracek DDS, a retired family practice dentist

If you want helpful resources and tips for caregivers of afflicted loved ones, Dancing with Lewy covers it all. While dementia creates heartache and struggle this book portrays highlights of the American Dream era with vivid pictures of the authors growing up years. Memories and reflections interspersed with poetry written by her father captured me completely. An honest and transparent journey of a loving daughter who remembers the joy, but also struggles with exhaustion, crankiness, and guilt. A must read for every caregiver out there.

Marianne Foscarini, Christian Copywriter

Nancy Poland has given us a creative, compassionate, honest and emotional work on a family journey with a father who has Lewy Body Dementia. I found this fine book stirring up all kinds of emotions as my family journeyed with my father who had Parkinsons disease. I could not put the book down and I think that would be your experience if you pick up and read this book!

Mark Hovestol (Retired Pastor and College President)

Having lost my mother to dementia within the past year, I can only say I wish Nancy Polands book, Dancing with Lewy, could have been published sooner. You will laugh, cry, be serenaded by her fathers poetry and emerge better equipped to find joy in your journey through the dementia of a parent, patient or loved one. Her kind and compassionate story promises comfort and insights for caregivers and family members in distress.

Marnie Swedberg, Author, Leadership Mentor

NANCY R. POLAND

A Father-Daughter Dance
Before and After Lewy Body
Dementia Came to Live With Us

NEW YORK

LONDONNASHVILLEMELBOURNEVANCOUVER

Dancing with Lewy

A Father-Daughter Dance, Before and After Lewy Body Dementia Came to Live with Us

2021 Nancy R. Poland

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

ISBN 9781631951275 paperback

ISBN 9781631951282 eBook

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020935959

Cover Design by:

Megan Dillon

Interior Design by:

Christopher Kirk

www.GFSstudio.com

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Disclaimer

This is a memoir based on the authors memories of events. While all experiences relayed actually occurred, some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals and businesses.

Morgan James is a proud partner of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. Partners in building since 2006.

Get involved today! Visit
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For my three sisters who loved and cared for our Dad every step of the way. You have each made the world a better place, and I am blessed to have you in my life.

Dont look back, friend; look ahead
Youll meet the living, not the dead.

Soldiers meet the enemy face-to-face,
They dont run a backward race.

If you cant find the enemy up ahead,
Its because you stopped fighting, and, friend, youre dead.

Cause in this life, the enemys there;

You may not always know just where.

So make up your mind, the hour is late,
Some battles are small, and some are great
Youll be fighting Gods battle right up to the gate.

So lead on, warrior, and dont despair,
Cause at the end of the battle well all be there.

All poetry is from the familys booklet,
Memories in Verse the Poems of Lee E. Eggerud.

The poems are original with minor grammatical corrections.

How Dad Wrote his Poetry

M any people played a part in this story.

Life-long gratitude goes to my mom and dad, who loved me unconditionally, taught me compassion, and showed me in an imperfect way the faithfulness of a perfect God.

My husband John, who has stood by me and cheered me on for over 40 years. He brought my parents to doctor appointments, picked up medications and listened to their stories. John had hot meals waiting for me at home after long nights in the nursing home with Dad. And he held me while I grieved.

I am so grateful for our sons Lee and Corey, who encourage me and remind me of the goodness of life.

A big thank you to my sisters who provided photos, clarified the timing of events, and reminded me of how to love when times were the most difficult.

A special thank you to Terri, who proofread this manuscript multiple times, and to readers Marcia and Diane, who provided content input.

My professional team: Barbra Kois, copy editor, Mariya Anderson, photo editor and Brittany Cahoy, photographer were thoughtful and supportive.

Thank you to Terry Whalin and Morgan James Publishing for believing in me.

Most of all thanks be to God for the gifts of grace, mercy and hope for a future of no more pain and suffering.