One Suddenly Blind Patient, One Caregiver And One Little Dog
Books on "history" have always been Jack Ramsay's passion. He had written Angel Kisses And My Beating Heart, never dreaming he would write any more "history" of his own life. So, it took encouragement and a team of three to write and publish this book of "history": Jack, the "Suddenly Blind Patient"; Karin K. (the K. for Kinsey) Ramsay, surprised and untrained "Caregiver" and Chalena C. (the C. for Chihuahua) Ramsay, his loyal and devoted "Little Dog".
The book includes four parts: Unexpected challenges for the Suddenly Blind Patient, rated on a panic scale of 1 to 10. Challenges as to what to do first for the untrained Caregiver. Answers to Questions Family and Friends Want Answered Yet Hesitate to Ask. Challenges for the family pet who somehow manages to keep laughter and love in the house.
I Can Feel The Sunshine is not written as (nor does it deal with) medical advice. It is written as two people and a little dog meet the challenges of sudden blindness affecting all of them. The title, I Can Feel The Sunshine, is taken from the words spoken almost daily by a person who continues to enjoy the wonders of outside nature, despite blindness. The book is written with the hope that it will encourage others who may find themselves either "suddenly blind", a "caregiver" or the "family pet" who must be creative in finding a way to let a master know you still love him, you are there and still want him to pet you. It is also written to answer the questions we know are on the mind of the casual observer out in public who wants to know "what happened".
People who were recommended as people who "might be interested" in knowing more about the challenges of blindness, pre-publication manuscript reviewers, have encouraged the authors to publish by writing:
When we as doctors have patients that require care that we know is beyond our expertise, the only thing at our disposal is our ability to listen and be as compassionate as possible. This book, written by Dr. Ramsay, gives the doctor an insight into what these patients and their families go through at home in their attempt to return to a normal routine. Such a uniue insight can do nothing but make us better doctors. Dr. Kelby A. Trusty, Therapeutic Optometrist, Denton, Texas
"The bond between an owner and their pet frequently becomes stronger and even more important if the owner develops a disability, as this book so well describes." - Dr. Kyle Jones, D.V.M. Denton, Texas.
What a wonderful love story. We should all be so lucky to have a partner for life and a little dog to share in the love. Kay Palmer, Amherst, Wisconsin
Autobiography by One Suddenly Blind Patient , One Caregiver And One Little Dog
94 Pages, 6x9 Softcover.
Published by Historical Resources Press Dec. 2006
$18.95 $14.95 Special + $5.05 shipping / handling $20.00 Special
REVIEWS
"I Can Feel The Sunshine is Wonderful! I have a whole new respect for blind people since I am aware of many things I had never thought of before: like the constant fear of falling or being left alone. We have a special friend who is blind. We are going to visit him more often. Celia Doud, Midland, South Dakota.
Should be required reading for anyone involved in the care and treatment of the Suddenly Blind. Wonderful tips on how to handle stress of caregiving situations plus understanding the perspective of a loving little dog will help give insight into the reactions people are experiencing.
An abundance of ways to give and this applies to all caregiving whether blind, a stroke or cancer simple measures of help that would be so appreciated. Nursing homes would benefit from having a number of copies for sale or as loaners. Carl and Dorothy Franzyn, Crivitz, Wisconsin. "Suddenly Experienced Caregivers"
