Author Felicity Jean Transforms Alzheimer’s Caregiving Into a Journey of Resilience in “Free Fall”

In “Free Fall,” author Felicity Jean delivers a raw, unfiltered memoir about what it means to love and lose someone who is still standing right in front of you.

What begins as an uplifting story of rediscovered love between two divorced adults quickly transforms into a battle against Early-Onset Dementia and Alzheimer’s, the unrelenting disease that stole her husband Mark’s memories, personality, and ultimately his life. Through strikingly honest scenes from sudden personality shifts to hallucinations, violence, and heartbreaking confusion, Jean captures what so many caregivers experience but seldom say out loud: the emotional and mental unraveling that happens long before the final goodbye.

Readers first meet Mark as an active, funny, adventurous man whose “infectious laughter” and daring spirit pull Jean back into a life she thought she lost. Their marriage is joyful, grounded in faith and second chances. But five years later, symptoms begin creeping in: misplaced items, repeated questions, strange conversations, the loss of work ability, doctors’ visits, and ultimately, a devastating diagnosis that forever changes their future.

As Jean becomes her husband’s full-time caregiver, “Free Fall” reveals the psychological weight of caregiving—fear, rage, exhaustion, guilt, and grief layered on top of one another. She describes moments many mental health professionals and caregivers will recognize instantly:

1. the sudden aggression during a hallucination-driven outburst
2. the shame and secrecy surrounding diagnosis
3. the fight to keep him safe without stripping away dignity
4. the emotional isolation of loving someone whose mind is slipping away
5. the wrenching decision to move him into assisted care
6. the overwhelming mental fatigue of being hypervigilant 24/7

The book offers a rare, inside view into the mental health crisis caregivers undergo, often unnoticed while the medical spotlight remains solely on the patient. Jean’s honest portrayal of screaming into pillows, bargaining with God, feeling resentful, feeling guilty for being resentful, and trying to stay hopeful makes the memoir not just Mark’s story, but hers.

Yet, “Free Fall” is far from hopeless. Woven throughout the pain is a story of faith, connection, and enduring love, culminating in moments after Mark’s passing. These reflections offer comfort to readers struggling with grief, anticipatory loss, or the long-term psychological strain of caregiving.

With Alzheimer’s diagnoses on the rise, particularly early-onset cases affecting people in their 40s, 50s, and early 60s, “Free Fall” becomes a timely, essential read for caregivers, mental health professionals, faith communities, and families navigating the disease together.

For more information about the book and the author, visit https://felicityjeanauthor.com/.

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