1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

     A Loving Tribute, July 14, 2009

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (7/09)

Through a series of beautifully written essays Marilyn Garzione tells the story of her relationship with her husband and then his decline from Alzheimer's disease. Her husband, Patrick, was actually a priest when she first met him. As time progressed, he left the priesthood and extended his relationship with her from friendship to romance. Their story is very inspiring.

Sadly, Marilyn's first experience with Alzheimer's disease involved her father. By sharing this experience with her husband, she also learned about how Patrick would feel about having this disease. As he started to decline, she worked very hard to protect him. She also discovered that while she couldn't change the situation, her attitude towards it could affect the outcome of their happiness. In these poignant stories, Marilyn tends to find humor in their situation. So many people reading this could learn from her.

Having had a grandfather with Alzheimer's I could relate to so much about Marilyn's experiences. I was not as closely involved as she was, so I did not have to endure the pain that she did. However, there were definitely times where it was better to laugh than cry. Readers who are caregivers will totally find themselves being able to relate to "Released to the Angels." Perhaps knowing that they are not alone in what they are going through will give them hope and solace.

In addition to learning about the difficulties of being a care provider and having to deal with Alzheimer's, I was also moved by the love that Patrick and Marilynn shared. To be able to have experienced a love to such a depth that they were able was truly a gift for both of them. I highly recommend "Released to the Angels" by Marilynn Garzione.