We Carry Each Other: Getting Through Life's Toughest Times

I couldn't put this book down from the moment I began reading it! So many of the personal stories I came across felt like someone saw my inner thoughts and put them into this book. It was so comforting to know that I am not alone in this journey.

Great quick read. Extemely helpful to let people know what they can do to help friends, family and acquaintances when there is illness, injury, or death. Shows you what sometimes is not obvious. Great stories.

Reviewed by Mary Treacy O'Keefe At some point in our lives, nearly every one of us will experience the difficult challenge of caring for an aging parent or a seriously ill or injured friend or family member. Coping with the demands of health crisis is stressful, draining and potentially overwhelming. Eric and Sharon Langshur should know better than most people. They founded CarePages.com, the largest online social network and support community of its type in the world. As co-authors of We Carry Each Other: Getting Through Life's Toughest Times, with Mary Beth Sammons, the couple shares inspiring real-life stories of people who have either survived a health crisis or who have effectively and lovingly cared for someone they love. However, the book offers much more than a collection of heartwarming stories. Each chapter contains thoughtful quotes, including highlighted "words to live by," in addition to practical tips. Sample sidebar headings are designed to be easy-to -read roadmaps for navigating specific situations, like "Caring for Your Parents--and Keeping Your Sibling Relationships," "Tips for Helping a Friend or Loved One Who is Hurting," and "On Loss," and Tips for Caring for a Dying Sister." For readers who have been blindsided by a devastating diagnosis of their own or of a loved one, or who just want to know how to most compassionately companion a friend through an illness, this book will be an effective template, filled with information and inspiration. Whether used as a handy resource for yourself or as the perfect gift for a care-giving friend, I highly recommend this book as one that will provide invaluable assistance to people during some of the most difficult times in their lives. NOTE: This reviewer runs a wellness center for people with chronic and other diseases, as well as other health and emotional needs-so she writes from first-hand experience about "carrying each other." Armchair Interviews says: Book of great value to anyone.

This is a great book, a much needed collection of wisdom about those difficult times everyone faces sooner or later, when we find that we and our loved ones cannot prevent loss and pain, but must instead cope and help others cope. It offers compassionate stories and practical ideas in an easy to read format. Each chapter shows one aspect of the comforting concept that the most important approach is to face such challeges together rather than alone, to "carry each other."

I wish I had this book when my father was in a near-fatal car accident. Similar to other stories in this book, a single phone call threw us into a foreign world. One of surgeons, medical procedures, life saving machinery, terms we've never heard before and the need to make decisions on a dime. After the emergency, there were months of rehab. Our immediate family was spread across a few states and communication was difficult. Emotions ran on high. It was a time of great stress. While no one is ever prepared for such a call, if we had read this book and had we known about CarePages.com it would have made our lives a little less stressful during a critical time. So many of our friends and extended family wanted to help but didn't know how. This book provides so many thoughtful suggestions for times such as these. This book is a heartwarming read. I didn't want to put it down. Importantly, it's an invaluable resource...an etiquette book for the difficult times. Everyone should read this book during good times because you never know when a difficult time might occur. Highly recommend!