Review of A Son's Promise

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Son's Promise" by Jonathan C Gehrig.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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In memory of his parents, Kenneth S. Gehrig and Rita A. Gehrig, Jonathan C. Gehrig wrote A Son's Promise to fulfill a promise. In this book, Jonathan shares his journey as a caregiver for his parents, highlighting the good and bad times they shared and what these times meant to each of them and other family members. By reading this fascinating book, you will learn what Jonathan promised, what to expect when you or your parents are approaching their final stage of life, and how you and they can be helped.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is that Jonathan showed the importance of nursing and retirement facilities and how a caregiver can provide additional support for the facility and the care of their loved ones. When all the residents come down with the flu simultaneously, there is not enough staff to take care of all the residents promptly. This is only one example of when a family caregiver can step in and help. I agree with the author that much history can be found if you listen to older people. I particularly liked the story told by 98-year-old Elmo, who was in the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. As someone who provided care to multiple family members, I could relate to many things Jonathan encountered. For example, making time for doctor appointments, wondering if your loved one would still be alive the next day, overcoming your loved one's embarrassment when you had to clean them up, their experiences while transitioning out of this life, never having a day off, and having to keep your fear, sadness, and pain hidden, to name just a few. I appreciate the author showing the positive and negative sides of caring for someone during their last days. The pictures throughout this book made me feel like I knew each person because I could put a face to the name.

My only recommendation for the author is to move the list of contents to the front of the book instead of having it at the end. I do not consider this a negative aspect because it is a personal preference. With all the positive aspects discussed previously and the lack of negative aspects, I give this professionally edited book 5 out of 5 stars. I commend Jonathon for keeping his promise to his father.

Jonathan's parents were Catholics and strong in their faith, which is revealed in many different ways throughout the book. This content makes this book more suitable for Catholics and Christians who believe in God and Heaven. If you find religious content or non-borderline profanity offensive, you will want to skip over this book.

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A Son's Promise
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[Joe Alex 2]

The review made me interested in how Jonathan navigated the tough realities of caregiving, especially balancing personal emotions and practical needs. The story of Elmo’s WWII experience caught my attention, as it adds a personal history layer. I’d want to know more about the emotional impact on Jonathan, and the religious angle increase its appeal for me. I’d consider reading it.