This is a story of my family's journey along the river of dementia. It is a story of my mother's travels through the waters, my father's love and devotion while on the river with her, my sister's joys and pains negotiating the currents, and my thoughts while watching from the banks and giving navigational directions from a distance.

It is also a crazy quilt of my mother's life, a crazy quilt made up of bits and pieces, scraps and patches, all put together with threads of love. I hope these pieces will honor my mother's life and my family's voyage on this river. I hope it will give solace and hope, and an understanding of the dementia process to others involved with their own stories.

Being an Alzheimer's professional does not take away the agony and pain, frustration and uncertainties, I feel in dealing with my mother and our family. It is my hope you will come to understand some of these feelings and the issues regarding my mother's and our family's personal journey. I hope you learn from our story and come to understand more clearly the enigma of dementia.