Title: A Caregiver’s Response: Our Shared Journey
Author: Gary Pacernick
Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
ISBN: 978-1-951775-96-4
Genre: Poetry
Pages: 161
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert

Read Book Review

A compilation of poetic stanzas weighted with deep emotion, A Caregiver’s Response: Our Shared Journey by author Gary Pacernick shares the intimations, thoughts and observations of the deeply touching sojourn of becoming his wife’s caregiver, after she receives a devastating cancer diagnosis.

Married for thirty-three years, Gary Pacernick and his wife Dotti were devastated with Dotti’s unexpected cancer diagnosis. The ensuing battle fought over the following year, had Gary becoming his wife’s caregiver, which was something that he never expected to have to do, nor would most ever expect to have to do for his spouse. Together Gary and Dotti would have to face down a multitude of raw emotions like fear, desperation and dread, as well as several setbacks, including postoperative complications, all of which can be a heart wrenching “par for the course” for any caregiver and their patient. Also, among the tremendous hurdles, and setbacks there was a rallying instance which did offer hope briefly but eventually, Dotti did succumb to her illness.

Meanwhile, facing the potential loss of his wife of 33 years, Gary Pacernick began documenting the pivotal experiences with diary-like, poetic stanzas which provides an intimate view of the emotional ups and downs experienced, as he and his wife fought valiantly through their battle against cancer. Overall, this is a work that does well to capture the raw moments and emotions of this heartbreaking journey.

The book is divided into two sections, with each part titled and considered a phase, featuring intimate poetic verses key moments and experiences. Phase 1 is an accumulation of poems focusing on the timeline spanning from Dotti’s early diagnosis to pelvic operation. Next, phase 2, concerns the experiences of author Pacernick and wife during the aftermath of her operation, hospice stay, decline and unfortunate demise.

Ultimately, Gary Pacernick’s work in, A Caregiver’s Response: Our Shared Journey brings into full focus the devastation of terminal disease, especially the tremendous responsibility and emotional impact a caregiver and patient go through, particularly as husband and wife. His story is extraordinarily built with touching, lucid, well-written verses. Moreover, his journey, although tremendously sad, will serve to inspire and perhaps prepare other caregivers for their journey.

Altogether, authenticity and deeply moving. I was held rapt by this affecting work skillfully posed through verse, it is engaging and intensely worthy of reading. I highly recommend this book but be warned, this is so deeply moving you will need a box of tissues nearby.