Writer Ann Campanella was 33 years old and hoping to become a mother when her own mother began showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. As her mother declined, Ann suffered a series of miscarriages that compounded her feelings of grief for the mother who was slipping away from her. On the show Ann talks about her experience, captured in her memoir “Motherhood: Lost and Found.” She tells us how she got through the long stretch of grey days caring for her mother at a time when her friends were caring for their own kids, about the painful experience of taking her mom to Duke University Medical Center and why she’s reaching out to people in similar circumstances. Ann is actively involved with AlzAuthors, which works to raise awareness, reduce stigma and lend support to people whose lives have been touched by dementia.
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Explore Ann’s website: anncampanella.com
Amazon page for Ann’s book: “Motherhood: Lost and Found”
Learn more about AlzAuthors: alzauthors.com
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- Ann and her mom.
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- Ann, her daughter Sydney and her mother (2005).
Music: “Growing Silence” by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive
Scattered: My Year As An Accidental Caregiver is available in paperback and eBook at
Ann, I have just finished your excellent book, “Motherhood–Lost and Found.” You have written an excellent book about families and caring for parents. Your love for your parents, husband, siblings, and horses came through very clearly. I appreciated what you wrote about caring for your mother and father. Life is hard at times and we don’t understand why the events happen in our life sometimes, but I have found that my faith carries me through the hardships. I liked your honesty in writing this book.
Thank you for being such a good author.
Ruby Stroud
Ruby, thank you so much for your lovely response to my book. I so appreciate your kind words. Yes, life is definitely hard at times and confusing. Alzheimer’s disease was a tough road, but it made me appreciate my mother even more. Blessings to you.