Mosaic Moon: Caregiving Through Poetry

The author of "Mosaic Moon" - Frances H. Kakugawa - is a caring, empathetic woman who became the leader of a group of Alzheimer's caretakers in Hawaii. What a productive work she did and continues to expand! The book tells of the concept of encouraging creative outlets for deeply torn persons who are tethered to family members living in another dimension. The Alzheimer's Association of Honolulu describes it as an amazing opportunity for caretakers "to step outside their burden of care." Kakugawa's treatise is a cooperative effort of leader and 'pupils' working together to survive through the gift of writing. They learn to express themselves and their predicaments, thus releasing resentment - escaping, if you will. There is nothing *stodgy* as that word might infer, about the telling of their experiences. Caretakers are usually women; they could easily feel like martyrs if not for setting a high priority on their own mental health. They are sometimes raging and at times laughing at the physical and emotional boundaries that squeeze them into corners, suffocating their love. The poems are amazing, filled with truth, remorse, hope, despair but generous in their sharing. I want to say to everyone "read this one, and this and this . . " but I see your 'tolerant' looks and want to shake a promise from you that yes, you WILL read and try to understand within the limitations of your experience: As petals open we learn new ways of seeing - Tears trail down our cheeks. If we live without ever knowing someone in this other dimension how can we know the intensity of nature's gift of music? To the five women who contributed to this valuable book (Irene Asato, Lynne Halevi, Joyce Lani Kaaihue, Jody Mishan and Setsuko Yoshida), and to their mentor Frances Kakugawa, my heartfelt thanks.

Kudos to Frances H. Kakugawa. She has done the near impossible. She has drawn caregivers into an environment so filled with trust that they found the courage to be truthful about caregiving. Caregivers, as the contributing authors of MOSAIC MOON Caregiving Through Poetry, bear witness to some poignant facts including... 1. Caregivers are often (usually?) people without medical training.2. Caregivers are usually filled with love for their patient & grief for their own losses.3. Caregivers' personal services and sacrifices are not to be taken lightly. Frances H. Kakugawa, in birthing this remarkable book, has provided insightful evidence that caregivers are usually individuals who set aside their own lives, draw deeply on their own human love and miraculous God love, to put someone else's needs before their own for an indefinite period of time.I challenge anyone who does not think caregiving is a daunting task to read this book. Then consider who their own caregiver will be when the time arrives that they cannot care for themselves, and let their imagination wander....

Mosaic Moon - Review Poetry may be formidable for some; for others, it may seem excessively sentimental or emotional. Mosaic Moon is neither one. It is not for the meek and insensitive. It is, without question, for those who seek the naked truth of being a caregiver. These are expressions of poet-caregivers sharing their heartrending stories as they care for loved ones who have been robbed of a meaningful life by the unrelenting disease we all fear - Alzheimer. What greets the potential reader of this extraordinary book is the stunning cover that engages the curious and the creative mind. Upon closer examination of the face that graces the cover, one cannot help but sense the succinct and profound lessons contained within its pages. That this book has become a reality is an incredible feat, given the uncommon gathering of ethnic, cultural, educational, religious, and age differences. This was made possible only through the skillful guidance and dedication of their teacher and mentor, Frances H. Kakugawa, herself an Alzheimer's caregiver for her mother. She guided this group, whose common bond was their role as caregivers with little or no writing experience to become accomplished poets.What is offered us is a treasury of shared stories of each poet's unadulterated private thoughts, passions, anguish, and feelings of remorse. The result of this process was the unfolding of transformed caregivers finding peace and joy through their teacher's compassionate wisdom. She guided them through the ugly recesses of their anguish and resentment, leading them from darkness to light as their poetry turned the rubble of the caregiving experience into the gem of their caring compassion. Through this painful process evolves the transformed spiritual being, courageous and beautiful, much like the lotus blossom that emerges from the mud. Mosaic Moon is an excellent resource book that encourages everyone to affirm and accept whatever conditions they may encounter. In the author's words, "It is meant as a resource guide - a hands-on tool designed to help caregivers and others explore and share that experience through creative expression.... Although written by caregivers for caregivers, this book is for anyone who knows what it is to be human, and who wishes to transform that humanity into poetic form." page x. Without hesitation, I recommend this book for its poetry, for its compassion, and for its truth of what it means to be a caregiver with all our limitations.

This remarkable book should have been subtitled "Searching for the Spiritual in Alzheimer Caregiving through Poetry". This is what these five intrepid women set out to do. It's hard to think of a more unlikely combination -- but you know what? They found it! Maybe the subtitle should have been "Finding the Spark of the Divine in Alzheimer Caregiving through Poetry." In 15 years of practicing as an internist and caring for numerous patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers, I have never seen anything like it! Carinig for Alzheimer's victimes has to be one of the mostdisheartening experiences one can imagine. Up to now, there has been very little to offer caregivers in surviving the process -- this discovery is sorely needed and welcome -- and to me, truly amazing. Hope and the possibility of transcending spiritually the rigors of the situation can be extremely powerful. None of these women are Maya Angelou or Emily Dickinson -- in fact, that is the whole point -- this is something that anyone can discover with the will and a little work and thoughtfulness. The hope of this book is to share this journey with others who may be able to benefit from it. This book is recommended for caregivers (and not necesarrily just of Alzheimer victims) and anyone in the helping profession looking for something to offer caregivers. But it is also recommended for anyone that's human,for it speaks directly to the humanity in all of us.