Read more
Amid the many obstacles she and her husband, Michael, face after his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Suzanne Marriott's love for him grows-creating a bond even death cannot sever-and she learns to be a compassionate caregiver for both him and, ultimately, herself. Candid and illuminating, Marriott's story of spiritual and psychological growth through caregiving will appeal to anyone facing a life-changing crisis.
About the author
Suzanne Marriott is a memoirist and deep-travel writer who shares her transformative experiences with her readers. Her writings on compassionate caregiving have been published in The Union newspaper, and Writer Advice awarded her the “Scintillating Start Prize” for the first chapter of Watching for Dragonflies. Her personal essay, “Indian Summer,” was included in the ebook anthology Seasons of Our Lives: Autumn and won the 2012 Fall Memoir Writing Contest for Women’s Memoirs. Suzanne’s stories of deep travel have appeared on the award-winning website Your Life is a Trip and Soul of Travel Magazine. Suzanne holds an MS in education and an MA in transpersonal psychology, and is a former teacher and grant proposal writer. She lives in an ecologically conscious cohousing development in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Visit Suzanne at www.suzannemarriottauthor.com for more on compassionate caregiving and www.transformativetravelwriting.com for more on deep travel. She lives in Grass Valley, CA.
Summary
2023 Living Now Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner for Mature Living/Caregiving
“I found it unique and inspiring that the couple worked hard to keep their love alive and their sex life active while facing serious health challenges. . . . What a highly inspiring and impactful book!” —Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review
“Spirituality is a central theme throughout the memoir. . . . A moving story of love, loss, illness, and the beauty that persists.” —Kirkus Reviews
Suzanne’s story begins with a phone call from her husband, Michael, telling her he has collapsed on the job. They soon learn he has multiple sclerosis. Despite the negative patterns threatening their marriage, she is determined to handle the caregiving tasks suddenly thrust upon her. Through love, psychological insights, and spiritual inquiry, she cultivates her abilities—and gains the courage to confront a medical system that often saves her husband but at other times threatens his life. As time progresses, Michael undergoes many hospitalizations; he also makes miraculous recoveries that allow adventure back into their lives, including a numinous experience with dragonflies. When Suzanne faces her own medical crisis, their world is shaken once again—but throughout it all, love is their bond, one even death cannot sever.
In Watching for Dragonflies, Suzanne reaches out to other caregivers and anyone who has experienced a life-changing crisis, inviting them to explore the many avenues of growth and transformation that uninvited change can bring. Often poignant, at times funny, and always riveting, Watching for Dragonflies will bring comfort—and inspiration—to readers as they navigate their own transformative journey.
