Losing my Mind, Thomas DeBaggio
Losing my Mind, Thomas DeBaggio
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Losing my Mind
An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer's

Author: Thomas DeBaggio

Narrator: Cotter Smith

Abridged: 4 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/01/2002


Synopsis

When Tom DeBaggio turned fifty-seven in 1999, he thought he was embarking on the golden years of retirement -- time to spend with his family, his friends, and the herb garden he spent decades cultivating.
One winter day, he told his doctor during a routine exam that he had been stumbling into forgetfulness. After it subsequent battery of tests, DeBaggio joined the legion of twelve million others afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.
Losing My Mind is an extraordinary first-person account that charts the ups and downs of early onset Alzheimer's -- a form of the disease which can he particularly ravaging to younger, more alert minds. DeBaggio started writing on the first day of his diagnosis and has continued despite his slipping grasp on his memory.
DeBaggio paints a vivid picture of the splendor of memory and the pain that comes from its loss. DeBaggio poignantly depicts one of the most important parts of our lives -- remembrance -- and how we tend to overlook it. But to DeBaggio, memory is more than just an account of a time long past, it is one's ability to function, to think and ultimately, to survive. As his life is reduced to moments of clarity, the true power of thought and his ability to connect to the world shines through.
A testament to the beauty of memory, Losing My Mind is more than just an account of Alzheimer's, it is the captivating story of one man's battle to stay connected with the world.

About Thomas DeBaggio

Thomas DeBaggio (1942-2011) was an American author, herb grower, and advocate for research into Alzheimer's disease. DeBaggio was once called the best “Rosemaryologist in America” and his company, DeBaggio Herbs, was one of the most respected herb farms and nurseries in the Washington, DC, area. His book Growing Herbs from Seed, Cutting, and Root was the 1995 recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award for best garden book of 1995 for excellence in editorial content and design.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sharon on December 01, 2022

Thomas DeBaggio was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age fifty-seven. He had already written and published three books. He undertook the challenging task of writing about his personal progression of the disease. It is an incredible firsthand account of Alzheimer's. Powerful book, particularly for those......more

Goodreads review by Trish on September 02, 2012

I got this book a couple years ago after learning my mom had Alzheimer's and seeing an interview with DeBaggio's wife on the Today show. I read a little into it and was soooo confused that I put it down and didn't pick it up again until this summer. My mom's Alzheimer's has progressed into Stage 5/6......more

Goodreads review by Edward on August 25, 2024

I thought this was a powerful book providing great insight in Alzheimer's and Dementia. While reading this I realized how blessed I felt and how sorry I was for the pain that Tom went through. I have already lived 5 years past the age of his diagnosis and look back at those 5 years of memories with......more

Goodreads review by Mary on May 24, 2023

DeBaggio, who died many years ago, writes about what it feels like to receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, his forays into his childhood aren’t interesting - he obviously wrote those parts as a way to preserve his past for his family and friends. Also, since this is an old book, the in......more

Goodreads review by Jim on February 17, 2013

This is now the fourth book in a row I’ve read about Alzheimer’s and the first by an actual sufferer; the novel I read was written from the perspective of a sufferer but the author didn’t have the disease and so it was a more polished and structured book than this although not a bad book and clearly......more