With some development, this book could easily have filled two books. One story was Harry Kozol’s career and the “famous” people he encountered and sometimes treated in his work. One place he worked was a well-known place called McLean Hospital, which treated people who are known now.I probably would have enjoyed that book too.
In a sense, all that info didn’t feel as if it belonged in this book. We learn about the Harry who retained at least some of his intellect and understanding of what was happening to him until well into the disease process.
Jonathan and those who cared for Harry didn’t treat him as a typical Alzheimer’s patient in that stage. They did what they could to encourage whatever memory sparks they could until it was too late.
Jonathan might have held onto his father longer than other adult children might have during his years with Alzheimer’s. He refused to sign a DNR while he believed his father was getting any bit of pleasure in his life, against medical suggestions to the contrary.
He sounded quite clinical and objective in some ways, but you could still hear the little boy inside him clinging to his mom and dad.
Well-written in honor of an amazing man by an amazing man.
Finding Our Voices Together 