This spiritual growth book explores Linda Pruden's experience as a dementia caregiver for her husband. Inspired by his own determination to find spiritual gifts embedded in the journey, her story provides encouragement for those living with a chronic illness and the people who love them.
"A powerful read for caregivers facing the journey of caring for someone with dementia. Her growth and faith over years of caring for Rob is an amazing blend of self-discovery and acceptance. An incredibly validating and relatable read."
—Lisa M. Brown, MSW, LISW, caregiver services program coordinator for Lyngblomsten Community Services
When Linda's husband, Rob, was diagnosed with dementia, he described it as a gift and an opportunity to grow spiritually. As things grew more difficult, Linda remembered these words and began her mission to live out his hopes.
Offering a fresh, positive outlook on serving as a dementia caregiver, From Fear to Peace is a reassuring road map for any faith-testing journey.
Linda Knebel Pruden is an author and national speaker residing in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received her master's degree in speech/language pathology from Purdue University, and went on to write five books for teachers, as well as her award-winning memoir, Reflections on a Changing Family. Having grown through the experience of being a caretaker, it is now her passion to help others unbury their own truths and find beauty in painful times.
This book covers caring for dementia, but is also an essential read for . . .
- people hoping for spiritual growth and peace,
- those looking to effectively provide caregiver support, and
- families needing a guide for walking in grace.
During the hardest of times, Linda's words help readers to let go of expectations and hold tight to hope . . . it's only then that we can move from fear to peace.
"Linda has created tools that will guide you through those darkest hours of transitions and fears. It is a story of empowerment and gratitude."
—Kristin Burich, healing facilitator
Linda Knebel Pruden is an author and national speaker residing in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received her master's degree in speech/language pathology from Purdue University, and went on to write five books for teachers. In 1987, she was the first speech/language pathologist to be named as a finalist for Texas Teacher of the Year.
Linda's writing has also tapped into her experience as a mother of three and a grandmother to seven. Her spiritual memoir, Reflections on a Changing Family: A Recipe Book of Life received a Next Generation Indie Book Award. Her latest work, From Fear to Peace, explores her experience caring for her husband throughout his time with dementia and shares messages of hope and peace.
"This book is a powerful read for caregivers facing the journey of caring for someone with dementia. Linda's reflectiveness on her growth and faith over years of caring for Rob is an amazing blend of self-discovery and acceptance. An incredibly validating and relatable read." — Lisa M. Brown, MSW, LISW, caregiver services program coordinator for Lyngblomsten Community Services
"Linda has created this book to be thought-provoking and to give tools that will help guide you through those darkest hours of transitions and fears. I am so grateful to her for taking time to write down all these insights she has gleaned from listening to her soul and then putting into practice what she has learned. It is a story of empowerment and gratitude." — Kristin Burich, healing facilitator
"I found From Fear to Peace to be helpful and relevant—especially as the son of a mother with Alzheimer's disease. I think the most helpful components were the messages of hope and search for positivity throughout the caregiving experience, via the Spiritual Insights. I have so rarely thought about the loving aspects of this type of journey (I often ask, what am I supposed to be learning from this?) and the writing definitely instilled what I believe to be an approach so little discussed, and so empowering. When you bring up dementia in discussion with people, most will express a bland sympathy for you and that seems to be the end of it. This manuscript does an excellent job adding key layers of complexity and thus making any caregiver/family member's thoughts on the subject more emotionally enriching.There is a lot of love that you can feel through the pages and especially in the notes for the caregivers.Linda has a very charismatic voice that inspires me to always want to do better. There were times reading the manuscript that my eyes watered, and as I learned from her, that ain't a bad thing." — Nate Weingarden, actor, son of mother with Alzheimer's disease
"First let me congratulate Linda on a raw and beautifully written piece of her life's journey. Linda has exposed her vulnerabilities with honesty and insights that have led to her own personal growth. Readers will feel they have a newfound friend in understanding and helping them along their personal journeys. From Fear to Peace is a gift that any reader will find comforting, insightful, challenging, and helpful not just in trying to embrace the unknowns of dementia, but in life itself. Linda shares with her readers how to let go of expectations and resentments while working on embracing the present moment fully and keeping one's own personal peace. It is a read of true grace, love, acceptance, peace, and growth. The reader will feel understood and challenged by a good friend. Unconditional love prevails." — Constance Doughty Jones, psychologist
