A Spiritual Tribute Born from Grief and Caregiving
Twelve years ago, I lost my mother to Alzheimer’s disease, and my world changed forever. Her decline wasn’t sudden, she came in fragments. Her laughter, her memories, her sense of time and place faded slowly, like the sunset. Watching her disappear while still physically present was the most soul-wrenching experience I’ve ever endured. When she passed in 2014, my grief didn’t end—it deepened. Questions haunted me: Why her? Could I have done more? What now?
In my search for meaning, I read, researched, and eventually wrote. The result was Living with Alzheimer’s – A Spiritual Journey—my most personal book to date. It is not just a tribute to my mother, but a companion for caregivers enduring one of the most isolating and emotionally exhausting roles imaginable.
Giving Voice to the Silent Grief of Caregivers
Alzheimer’s doesn’t just take away memories. It steals the essence of a person—slowly, relentlessly. But it also affects the ones who love them. Caregivers live with “grief in motion,” mourning someone who still sits beside them. I lived that sorrow, and I know others are living it now.
That’s why I wrote this book—to be a voice in the silence, to let caregivers know they are not alone. Living with Alzheimer’s – A Spiritual Journey is a heartfelt guide to navigating the emotional chaos of caregiving. It explores how to prepare for the inevitable changes, how to communicate when words fail, and how to show up again and again with love and patience—even when it hurts.
Spiritual Wisdom for the Raw Reality of Alzheimer’s
The book doesn’t offer clinical explanations or textbook terms. Instead, it provides emotional truth and spiritual guidance for real-life moments: when your loved one forgets your name, accuses you of things they never would have, or stares blankly at family photos. I wanted a voice that said, “This is hard—but you are not failing. You are human.”
After my mother passed, I became immersed in learning—not only about the biology of Alzheimer’s, but the spiritual toll it takes. I spoke to medical professionals, spiritual counselors, and other caregivers, shaping every page of this book through those collective insights.
Offering Empathy Where Clinical Answers Fall Short
What I found lacking in most Alzheimer’s resources was empathy. Too many voices were clinical and cold. I needed honesty. I needed someone to say, “This is devastating, but you will survive it.” That’s what I’ve strived to provide: a hand to hold through the page.
Living with Alzheimer’s – A Spiritual Journey is available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, and I’ve been fortunate to plan several book signings this year. There’s healing in shared stories—and in the simple act of meeting someone’s eyes and saying, “I understand.”
But Alzheimer’s wasn’t the final trial in my journey.
From Paranormal Tales to Caregiving Truths
Soon after, I became the full-time caregiver to my life companion, Lisa, who lives with Parkinson’s disease—another slow, unforgiving illness that erodes independence and identity. This new reality brought a fresh wave of challenges. That story became the foundation of my second nonfiction book, Living with Parkinson’s Together.
Like my first, this book isn’t about medicine—it’s about humanity. It offers practical insights, emotional truths, and encouragement for caregivers walking through the exhausting terrain of progressive illness. It is a love letter to Lisa and a resource for the many silent warriors out there—partners, children, friends—who show up every day for someone they love.
These two books marked a shift in my writing career. For years, I wrote fiction—horror, romance, fantasy, and children’s stories. In 2018 and 2019, I was honored to be a guest speaker at Spooky Empire, one of the nation’s largest horror conventions. I signed books, met readers, and shared insights from my paranormal fiction. It was a joy.
After years of traveling and speaking, I settled in Illinois to be close to my daughters and grandchildren—a grounding move that re-centered my focus.
Telling the Stories That Hurt—and Heal
In 2020, I was interviewed by Kate Delaney on America Tonight to discuss my novella Nightmare, which earned multiple 5-star reviews from Reader’s Favorites. That interview led to features on local FM radio, Fox News, and CBS News in 2023. Those platforms gave me the chance to speak about the heart behind writing—why stories matter, and why we must keep writing about the things that hurt us most.
Since then, I’ve expanded my work across genres. I recently released The Best Year of My Life – A Love Story, a novel that dives deeply into the beauty and fragility of human connection. That project, too, came from a place of vulnerability. Whether I write about ghosts or grief, love or loss, I aim to create stories that connect.
And yes—my ghost story fans can rest easy. The third installment in my haunted series, Yet Another Presence, is on the way. Like Presence and Another Presence, it will draw on real-life legends and unexplained mysteries to deliver atmospheric stories that linger in the mind and stir the soul.
Writing as Purpose, Connection, and Healing
Writing began quietly for me. Years ago, I published two illustrated children’s books with no expectations beyond sharing joy with young readers. But everything changed when I wrote my first story in memory of my mother. That single act of remembrance sparked something profound—writing became my purpose, my therapy, and my way to give back.
Today, I write for connection. To build bridges between silence and support. To remind others they’re not alone in their struggles—whether they’re grieving, caregiving, or simply trying to make sense of a difficult world.
I’m honored and humbled to be recognized by Authors’ Lounge and to share my journey with you. If my words can offer even a sliver of hope or understanding to someone walking through darkness, then I know I’ve done my job.
Kerry ONeal
Living with Alzheimer’s – A Spiritual Journey
217-390-7554
