In Memory of
Peter Jerome MacDonald
My Best Friend and Love
May 15, 1959–August 5, 2013
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Seeing Sacred Stones
A Family's ALS Journey of Love, Healing and Faith
by Karen J Williams
Seeing Sacred Stones chronicles one family’s year-long journey with ALS. As she watched her husband, Peter, physically change before her eyes, Karen J Williams kept a therapeutic journal in which she shared hopes, frustrations, and the faith that kept her grounded. The final compilation of entries is a story of love, friendship, and rising above ALS to live on your own terms while dying.
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Through the pages of her journal and in her own narration, Karen shares her close encounter with ALS, and she deals with caregiver issues surrounding self-care, parenting effectively, dealing with red-tape, and having hard but critical conversations with loved ones. But more than just this, she... Keep Reading​
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What readers are saying
Reviews for Seeing Sacred Stones
“Marked by positivity, Seeing Sacred Stones is a memoir about maintaining faith and hope in the face of a partner’s terminal diagnosis... Grief is ever-present and is treated with gravitas... despite its difficult subject matter, the book is full of optimism and appreciation.”
—Foreword Clarion Reviews (read the full review)
“To lean into what is most difficult, to engage with what appears to live beyond the limits of our imagination—this is courage. This kind of commitment to rumble with the frightening, the ugly, the unknown parts of our human journey—is what makes Karen Williams’ debut memoir stand out. Both striking and intimate, Williams shows us that we can find hope in the most unexpected places. Whether in a shared joke with a dying partner, or a hard conversation about mortality with a teenage son, what the author lays bare for us is that if we make room for heartbreak, it will make room for us. A tender and contemplative read, Seeing Sacred Stones is a balm for those who are faced with the unimaginable; and a companion for those of us who need reminding—that life’s greatest lessons are often forged in fire.”
—Laura Burke, Psychotherapist
“Karen's journals, shared in Seeing Sacred Stones, act as an intimate window displaying the effects of ALS on relationships, families and communities. It is an honour to bear witness to the inner strength that shines through in her writing. This book documents what love and perseverance look like when facing the loss of a loved one.”
— Hannah Poole, Registered Massage Therapist
“Seeing Sacred Stones is a must read for all. It not only sheds light on the universal experience of losing a loved one, but also dives deeply into the day-to-day challenges that arise on a caregiving journey. I have great respect for Karen and the courage it took to share her personal journals that deal with losing her husband to ALS. I lost my father to vascular dementia and was surprised to see the underlying similarities of emotions and experiences related to both family losses. This book helped me to see that it is not just sorrow that comes with loss, but a resilience of the human spirit. It is written with wisdom to help prepare you for the unexpected currents of emotions that may arise through this irrevocably altered journey of losing a loved one. It is a testament to the perseverance of love and ability to find solace even in our pain, knowing that we are not alone. We all share this universal experience of love, loss and finding our way to live again.”
—Greg Smith, Osteopathic Manual Therapist
“I was struck by the author’s wholehearted transparency as she unfolds the journey of navigating both the practical and emotional challenges of her husband’s ALS diagnosis until his last day. The intimacy of the story draws us in as Karen narrates family memories during this time of “living while dying” by highlighting grace, love, miracles and deep wisdom. There are countless beautiful quotes: “I am grateful for life and the challenging experiences and losses I’ve endured. Life is a gift- love is our essence.” In Seeing Sacred Stones, Karen brings us on a soul journey of growth and healing that ultimately reveals the elements of creating and living a sacred life.”
—Mara Vizzutti, Leadership Coach/Facilitator