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The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving
Author: Jonathon Evison
Publisher: Algonquin
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-61620-039-8
Ben is at rock bottom in his life. He's experienced a horrible tragedy (The day of the tragedy is played out in slow motion detail throughout the pages), is unemployed, living in a crappy apartment and has not a prospect to his name.
On a whim he takes a caregiving course that allows him to apply for jobs as an "in home" caregiver for disabled/invalid people. Not the most exciting job and in reality, a fairly depressing one.
He interviews and is accepted as the caregiver for a 19 year old boy (Trev) with Muscular Dystrophy. The boy may be crippled by his disease but he has a sharp mind and a sharper tongue.
The book hops back and forth between Ben's past life and his current situation with Trev. He continues to pine for his wife who has moved on in her life and simply wants him to sign the divorce papers. But Ben continues to be stuck in the past and just wants what is no longer possible.
Things are shaken up on Trev's end when his father, who abandoned the family when the boy was 2, decides he really wants to be a part of his life - now that Trev's life is nearing it's end.
As many different issues come to head in both Trev and Ben's lives, they find themselves on a road trip across country. An adventure awaits.
This story is not about solutions, cures or happy endings - it's about remembering to live...........and feel again.