I Will Never Forget is the incredible true story of the author’s talented mother’s poignant and humorous journey through Dementia. From superb stories of Elaine’s childhood, her controversial name, tales of smoking’ dragons, the feisty teenage years and a near paralyzing accident, her mother Betty Ward’s wonderful character is revealed.

Over time, as their relationship evolves and a new paradigm is formed, Betty begins to exhibit goofy actions, uncharacteristic verbal assaults and bizarre thinking. Although clearly mystified by her mother’s irrational behaviors, Elaine does not initially appreciate the extent of Betty’s mental decline. Her mother’s amazing ability to mask the truth clouds Elaine’s vision and prolongs her denial until one cataclysmic explosion of reality over an innocuous drapery rod launches a waterfall of destructive events.

As her mother’s brilliant mind is steadily destroyed by Dementia’s insatiable appetite for brain cells, Elaine accompanies her mother on her one-way journey through Alzheimer’s mystifying haze. Elaine cherishes her mother’s fascinating visions of her own mother, masterful Houdini-like disappearances and finally a stunning rally to take control of her own destiny.

I Will Never Forget is a heartwarming, humorous, honest and deeply moving story pertinent to everyone touched by the insidious effects of Dementia. Learn from Elaine’s unwitting mistakes as she weaves her way through her mother’s unpredictable disease to capture insightful and effective intervention strategies.

The author donates a portion of every book sold to Alzheimer’s research “in part so that my daughter’s don’t have to write a book about me one day.”

#1 Best Seller in medical Biographies and Memoirs (Kindle) Amazon March 2014



#1 Best Seller in Medical Professional Biographies (Books) Amazon March 2014

My Thoughts:

I didn’t want to put this book down but I didn’t want to get to the end.

Knock on wood, I am fortunate enough to not have had to deal with a loved one with memory issues as Elaine and Betty. I’ve dealt with minor memory issues, but nothing like this.

I commend Elaine for all she had to deal with.

Clearly, I do not know Elaine or Betty, but just from reading this I feel like I know Betty and I adore her – dementia and all. I feel like she could be my grandma and you can’t help but fall in love with her and worry about her as if she were your own while reading her journey.

It was interesting to see what happens when such an awful disease such as dementia tears through a loved one. How much Betty changed as a person. How she would have lucid times and then fall back into no memory. How she knew she had memory issues, but couldn’t figure it out.

I Will Never Forget

is such a fabulous book that let’s outsiders take a look into the terrible disease of dementia, but also allows us to see Elaine’s incredible strength and while the book is from Elaine’s point of view, you can feel the frustration on Betty’s behalf.

This is by far probably the best biography/memoir I have read this year and I highly recommend it. It is definitely a book I can see myself reading again (and while I will admit I did shed some tears, it really is more of an upbeat story rather than a depressive one!)

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About the Author

Elaine C. Pereira is a retired school occupational therapist who worked with special needs children. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Wayne State University and later completed her master’s degree. She also has completed courses as a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Caregiver, CDP. CDC.

Elaine and her husband Joseph live in southeastern Michigan with their cat, Snoopy, and two big dogs, Bailey and Maddee. Together they have five adult children; Joe’s three sons and Elaine’s twin daughters, five young grandchildren and a teenage granddaughter. Life is good again.

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“She was a kind, brilliant and talented person all of her life until Alzheimer’s took hold leaving an agitated, bewildered and compromised woman in its wake. I was NOT the easy kid to raise, that would have been my brother. But after a decade of great personal sacrifice and unspeakable losses, Mom started her descent into dementia. I stepped up as she slid down, grateful to give back to the woman who once gave so much!”


– author Elaine C Pereira