Dr. Chris Price
HEALING THYSELF A DOCTOR’S NOVEL WAY TO DISCUSS ELDER CARE
I
first met Christopher Price 25 years ago when he became our family doctor. He was straight out of medical school, and I recall him making the case for a family practice. Here’s what I recall: When one physician treats all members of a
CH By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk
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family, the doctor can interact with the family more frequently. In the process, the physician sees people when they are healthy, not just sick. This idea made sense to my husband and me. At one point, Dr. Price saw me, Jim, our children and my elderly mother. It worked out for everyone, and I had the opportunity to get to know our doctor. One thing that always struck me was his ability to ask meaningful questions and truly listen to the answers. He never rushed. Years ago, when I was overwhelmed by the stress of caring for an elderly
neighbor who had no family, Price shared a lovely story about his elderly neighbor and how he helped out. Sadly, our health plans changed a few years ago. We had to find new doctors. When I heard Price had written a novel about dementia caregiving, I wasn’t surprised. I knew he wanted to help others, drawing on his experience treating and observing Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their caregivers. Based on those experiences and his own thoughts about end-of-life care, hospice and supportive care, and how they affect patients and caregivers, Price wrote “Allison’s Gambit.” He says
the book’s primary mission is to explore these shared, difficult experiences and provide better care for our loved ones in the future. The novel was published in October. “Allison’s Gambit” follows Allison Raney as she deals with existential questions that arise after caring for her mother throughout her decline from Alzheimer’s. Concerned she will succumb to the same fate—putting her family through the experiences she had as a caregiver— Allison decides to take up a terrible habit: smoking. The decision shapes the novel’s foundation.
