Jan's Story: Love Lost to the Long Goodbye of Alzheimer's

Written by Barry Petersen

Narrated by Barry Petersen

Imagine hearing these words: "She has Alzheimer's."

Now imagine that "she" is vibrant, active, loving, healthy...and just fifty-five.

Acclaimed CBS News reporter Barry Petersen writes about hearing the unimaginable; what it meant, what it still means, what he did-and didn't do-and how this beautiful love story needs to be heard by the thousands of families who have already heard that same devastating diagnosis: EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

Even though Barry has spent his long-time, award-winning television career covering wars and events that shaped the world, he was not even slightly prepared for what happened to his darling wife, Jan, and how it would impact his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Aug 3, 2010
• ISBN: 9781400189168

Reviews for Jan's Story

[ellencam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a heartbreaking true story of Barry Petersen's experience with his wife's early onset alzheimer's disease. Having experienced this with my father, it describes the helpless situation a loved one is in when dealing with this. Her gradual decline was so sad and what a sincere tribute to his beloved wife.

[phyllis01_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I know there are many who condemn Peterson for how he has handled this situation. I'm not one of them. Life is a continuum; his beautiful wife, Jan has all but slipped away due to early-onset Alzheimers. While they remain legally married, the true connections of marriage are no longer in place. He has not abandoned her; rather he has strengthened his ability to care for her as long as she remains physically present in the world. I would likely have had a different opinion on all of this if this story had presented prior to my being widowed, but there again is that life/continuum thingy.