The Stranger Within

The Stranger Within is a collection of poems that reflect upon the thoughts, emotions, and observations of a wife and a caretaker, from early stages of Alzheimers to death. It shares accounts of how a soul suffering from a disease is transformed into a shell, losing all ability to communicate, show emotion, and enjoy the loved ones who continue to care and provide support and dignity to life. The Stranger Within is a chronological outpouring of a wifes innermost thoughts, fears, frustration, and anger as she learns to deal with how this disease turns her, her lover, the family, and friends into victims, as it slowly steals away the life of everyone in one way or another. Alzheimers disease attacks everyone who is diagnosed at different stages in their lives, but it seems to attack in same manner and ultimately ends with the same result. During this process, these souls all in some way become a stranger to those who see them, but it is unknown what is happening in the mind of that person within. The Stranger Within, through each poem, provides insight or comfort to those who are either beginning, currently living, or who have ended their journey with Alzheimers and the stranger that came into their lives.