Nanette to Present The Emotions of Caregiving

Nanette, who just returned from a much-too-short vacation along the beautiful Florida coast, is looking forward to presenting "The Emotions of Caregiving" at the Caregivers Support Group meeting on April 10 at 2:00 p.m. She'll discuss how caregivers can take better care of themselves and offer strategies to avoid burn-out.

The Caregivers Support Group, sponsored by PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, meets twice monthly at Adult Day Health, 809 E. Chestnut Street, Bellingham, Washington.

For more information about attending the free program, please contact Mary Lynn Palmer at (360) 788-6410.

Newspaper Publishes Nanette's Essay on Blessings

Last year, Nanette had a short essay on blessings published in The Bellingham Herald. She thought readers might want to take a look...

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/04/05/1953051/writer-learns-that-caregivers.html

Beatitudes for Women

Having drawn the title for Blessed is She from Psalm 41... "Blessed is she who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers her in times of trouble," Nanette thought readers might appreciate other Beatitudes for Women.

Blessed is she who suffers with the very young, the very old and the very lonely, for she has compassion.

Blessed is she who greets the world with joy, laughter and anticipation, for she has courage.

Blessed is she who speaks gently, lives humbly and chooses to give freely, for she has dignity.

Blessed is she who listens and hears, and extends her hands as a friend, for she has understanding.

Blessed is she who gives simply, loves deeply, and walks joyfully in life, for she has sincerity.

Blessed is she who lives intensely and sings life's alleluias, for she has awareness.

Blessed is she who has compassion and courage, freedom and dignity, understanding, sincerity, and awareness, for she is a woman, a gift, a blessing.

     ... Courtesy of the Newark Archdiocesan Council of Women

Inspiration from Fellow Authors

Nanette is continuing to work on her lastest projects, The Everyday Guide for Caregivers and Love's Last Measure: Caregiving Our Elders at the End of Life. She was especially inspired after meeting with a group of local authors last week. One member pronounced her excerpt from Love's Last Measure, "The best thing she's ever written."

Love's Last Measure began as a second edition of Blessed is She... Elder Care: Women's Stories of Choice, Challenge and Commitment. However, Love's Last Measure has become a true re-vision, with considerably more memoir elements, colored by Nanette's study of literary nonfiction writing. She is looking forward to sharing more of her story and that of the 60 interview subjects with readers everywhere.

The Everyday Guide for Caregivers is shaping up to be Nanette's handiest how-to yet.

Blessed is She Garners Honorable Mention

Blessed is She recently garnered an honorable mention from the 2010 Eric Hoffer Book Awards in the self-help/spiritual category. The Eric Hoffer Book Awards recognizes excellence in independent publishing.

Nanette appreciates the recognition and is currently working on a second edition of the book.

Western Student Shares Her Thoughts on Blessed is She

"I learned after reading Blessed is She that although the disadvantages of care giving are certainly present, caring for a sick person can be 'incredibly fulfilling' (and this is huge, given our fear of age and mortality) and one can become 'at ease with illness and death.' Davis describes this as being 'a tremendous gift that could only be learned by participating in the mystery.'

I couldn’t put this book down, it kept drawing me in and making me aware of the negatives, but was complete in its aspiration to identify and help the female care giver. ...The practical advice and intrinsic need for this book is overwhelming, and I will go so far [as] to say it should be required reading for care givers and their families.

Additionally, I applaud the author’s choice of titles for her book; she is gender-specific for a good reason, and it is a tribute to the feminine population. Davis’ passion in her writing symbolizes her struggle with the demands of her own experience in caring for her critically ill husband.

Blessed is She offers practical insight into how the female caretaker can alter or 'tweak' her role to better protect her boundaries and human limitations, which ultimately makes her a better caretaker, and heightens the caretaking experience. I have passed Blessed is She on to my mother to help assist her in her caretaking roles, as well as [sent] a copy to my aunt in Portland to help her with her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease. I know I will hear from my aunt, as she is an avid reader and I know she will appreciate this great informational guide on caretaking."

...Candace Severson, Student, Western Washington University

Local Psychologist on Blessed is She

"I am a psychologist in Bellingham. A client of mine has been struggling with caretaking her husband, who has Parkinson's. For a long time, I was trying to help her individuate, and we worked on ideas like getting her husband into a care facility. My client wanted this but it really just could not work out. She is a retired Ph.D. herself, and a good Catholic. One day last spring she came in with your book. From that day, our outlook and strategy changed completely. Your book provided a powerful validation for her role as caregiver. Our sessions have taken a much more positive tone and she feels a relieving sense of purpose, acceptance and respect for her role with her husband. I can't thank you enough."

... Dr. Chris Portman, www.chrisportman.net