Few of us are prepared when our elderly parents reach the final stages of their lives. It was always my plan to assist my parents in their golden years, but I never really thought about what that would entail when I decided to move back to New England from North Carolina.

I thought it would be as simple as enjoying some weekend family meals, doing the odd chore around the house, and reminiscing about old times. Little did I know that my parents were completely unprepared for their final years and that we would have to make it all up on the fly.

This book is the story of my journey with my parents over an 18-month period. It details my efforts to get them proper medical care and straight answers from doctors, handle my parents' finances, and figure out how to make some really hard decisions, all while trying to hold down a full-time job and find time for my husband.

My hope is that this book will help other families facing such difficult times. I pray others can find some inspiration from my determination to help my parents die with dignity while being surrounded by people they love. After all, isn't that what we all want and deserve?

Author Bio: First-time author Barbara Lorello grew up in Old Lyme, Connecticut, a quintessential shoreline New England town. She now lives in Middletown, Connecticut, with her husband, Gene, and their four cats, Milo, Oreo, Sebastian, and Toby.