A Guide To Books Available for Caregivers and Patients

Helping Yourself Help Others
by Rosalynn Carter with Susan K. Golant

In her third and most recent book, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter turns the spotlight on caregivers and presents a thoughtful perspective on the stresses and rewards of helping others. Acknowledging that most people come to caregiving out of the desire to help a loved one, Carter offers practical solutions to meet this often difficult and perhaps lonely challenge head-on, and to find fulfillment in the caregiving role. She writes "Caregivers give so much of themselves and sometimes receive very little in return...this book is meant to encourage you, to empathize with you and to advocate for your special needs."

Helping Yourself Help Others is a warmly personal account of caregiving, culled from Carter's own family experiences as well as from the lives of many other caregivers with whom she has crossed paths. An outgrowth of work done by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development which studies caregiving issues, the book is also filled with ideas, information and concrete advice for integrating the responsibilities of this vital role with the rest of one's life. An extensive list of useful resources, from books and pamphlets to research organizations and support groups, is included. Published by Times Books/Random House, Helping Yourself Help Others is available at retail bookstores and may also be available at your local library. You can also buy it by Clicking Here.

Living With Chronic Pain One Day At A Time
by Mark Allen Zabawa

This book of daily meditations is written for those who are living with chronic pain and searching for some direction in their efforts to cope with the pain. The author, who is a pain therapist, has drawn upon personal experience-both his and that of others he has counseled-as well as his faith in a "Higher Power" to craft the 365 messages of hope, courage and inner peace.

Living with Chronic Pain One Day At A Time is a meditation book with a gentle, straightforward message. Now that we know we have chronic pain, let's learn to live with it. The book doesn't pretend to be a magical cure to take away pain. Rather, it is about accepting the pain and moving forward to live in spite of the pain. The book may be ordered through Adventure Publications (800) 678-7006. (It may also be available at your local library). You can also buy it by Clicking Here.

Ray - A Brave Man's Journey
by Francine Gelinas O'Meara

This book presents a true-to-life story of love, family and interpersonal relationships, defined by one man's courage and will to survive, as well as the reality of hemophilia and AIDS.

Ray O'Meara, a husband, father and Montreal businessman with hemophilia, found himself confronted with HIV at the age of 44. Five years later, he passed away from AIDS. In testimony to her husband's fighting spirit and unwavering determination, his widow wrote this touching book about his life to provide a source of inspiration and information for others who are living with a chronic disease or terminal illness.

Dr. Shelby Dietrich, with the World Federation of Hemophilia, in Pasadena, California, says "Rays' life story is an exceptional account of his determination and fortitude..and should serve as an inspiration to many, even those with different medical problems but formidable life challenges." The book is available from Camira Publishing, P.O. Box 36045, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.