A mid-life mom, Colleen Gallagher would do anything to protect her children from harm. When her daughter's husband falls ill with ALS, Colleen rolls up her sleeves and moves in. As her beloved son-in-law's illness progresses, Colleen juggles the multiple roles of grandma, cook, and caregiver. The months drag on, and she discovers that even her superhuman efforts can't fix what's wrong.
An affecting, deeply honest novel; at the same time, a lacerating indictment of our modern health care system.–Kirkus Reviews
Employing a thought-provoking ending, Montpelier Tomorrow is an exceptional read. A mix of sadness and humor, it is indeed a story that should be read many times.–The US Review of Books
Montpelier Tomorrow displays a talent for exploring family relationships. In the eye of a storm, Colleen is a memorable, flawed, all-too-human wellspring of strength.–Foreword Clarion Reviews
A heartrending story of love, loss and the endurance of the human spirit.–Literary Fiction Book Review
"Characters are vivid, relatable, and all too imperfectly human." –Jewell Parker Rhodes
"Each time I have reread this novel, I have felt rewarded by the connection it offers to the central character, Colleen. I can think of no single page in which her voice is not an irreplaceable gift to the reader." –Kevin McIlvoy
"An engrossing account of the impossible choices faced by caregivers..." –Kathryn Shonk
MONTPELIER TOMORROW is about one family facing a caregiving crisis. At times raw–and often funny–the novel is for caregivers who wonder how they’re going to keep going. Through humor and empathy, the author takes readers into the home of a family confronted with one of the worst diseases imaginable–ALS. In the United States, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. In France, it’s known as la maladie de Charcot for Jean-Martin Charcot, the doctor credited with founding modern neurology.
ALS is one of the worst diseases a person can have. Those who are diagnosed with it face a grim future. However, none of the characters in this gripping, realistic novel are saints. The dying man isn’t noble. His caregiver, Colleen, isn’t a self-sacrificing martyr. And Colleen’s daughter Sandy is too beleaguered to feel grateful for her mother’s help. Love is what binds them together.
MONTPELIER TOMORROW is a book for moms who believe that after their children are grown, “life” is going to allow them to have a little “me” time. Instead, Colleen Gallagher is thrown back into the fray. A kindergarten teacher and mother of three, she overcame the death of her husband, but she still carries unresolved grief. When she learns the bad news about her son-in-law, she fears that Fate is about to turn her family’s fortunes upside down.