Read How God Remains Present During Dark Times in a Touching Memoir, Shattered Dreams--But Hope

LANSING, Mich., Dec. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Shattered Dreams—But Hope is a collection of Laquita and Elton Higgs' deeply personal experiences—good and bad—as parents and caregivers of patients with Huntington's Disease (HD). Not for the faint of heart, the book shares that dealing with HD and other progressive illnesses involves long, arduous tests of faith for the patients' family and loved ones and other people around them. These times, however, are also opportunities to hope for God to work through His instruments—medical professionals, social workers, and psychologists who dedicate their time and energy to helping both parties cope with these diseases.

"We wish we had all the answers, but we don't. We have made many mistakes in caring for our HD daughters, and we continue to make them, but we have learned that our mindset and actions can go a long way toward determining the quality of life in the HD household." The authors do not hide their many frustrations—or their mistakes—as caregivers of patients with progressive illnesses; however, they hope their experiences can give insights into caring for HD patients that that will be useful to others. "We caregivers can easily make the situation much worse, or with a good attitude and approach, we can make life better for the HD patient—and for us."

The authors share how HD affected Cynthia and Rachel, their adopted daughters, especially in producing aberrant behavior. From keeping calm during short-term emotional outbursts to cultivating a positive approach in the home, even small gestures can make a big difference for patients and their caregivers. Suggested measures include engaging the help of trusted and caring medical and psychological professionals; developing compassionate understanding of—and sometimes overlooking—the patient's strange behavior; and keeping the patient, as much as possible, motivated and engaged with the activities of life, such as therapeutic horseback riding, gardening, or creating art. Patients' continued engagement shows that even with their affliction, they can accomplish significant things, like finishing their education.

The authors also discuss the grief and difficulty of seeking a proper out-of-home care facility when it becomes necessary for the patient's (and/or the caregiver's) well-being. Even then, the caregiver must continue to look after and advocate for the patient, maintaining a trusting relationship between them. This also allows caregivers to savor every minute they spend with their loved ones, as time together will definitely be cut short.

None of this is easy, of course, but Laquita and Elton remind their readers to keep the faith and avoid letting setbacks discourage them. They stress the necessity of moving beyond the difficult days and developing, with God's help, patience, unconditional love, and understanding.

"Writing this has been therapeutic, for it has shown us that all the anguish and stress have not been wasted." Laquita and Elton see their calling to show compassionate love toward their daughters as following God's example of unconditional love for His children and His willingness to forgive sins. In the end, Laquita and Elton's years of continuous struggle managing and living in a household with progressive illness helped them learn to be better parents in ways nothing else could have. "We gladly cared for our daughters because we loved them, but in the process we became stronger people. Our love and faith have grown. We hope and pray that other caregivers may also find purpose in their endeavors and help in their struggles."

SOURCE Elm Hill