Deborah Tornillo

Deborah Tornillo was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas by her loving and nurturing parents. She attended the University of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she studied Art. After marrying, raising two daughters and enjoying life with her family, Deborah joined a higher calling by committing to be the primary caregiver for her parents, both of whom were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in February 2006. In her new collection of memoirs, 36 Days Apart: A memoir of a daughter, her parents and the Beast named – Alzheimer’s: A story of Life, Love and Death, Deborah chronicles the time spent taking care of her mother and father. 36 Days Apart recounts this painful, enlightening journey, and Tornillo writes candidly about the struggles and fears she faced as her parents’ caregiver. As their disease progressed, Tornillo was faced with the difficult task of learning how to be a parent to her own parents. Through the year and a half of caring for them she extensively researched Alzheimer’s in order to provide the best care possible, all the while knowing that the disease would eventually win in the end. 36 Days Apart gives an honest, unflinching look at the realities of caring for and losing loved ones to Alzheimer’s. Tornillo gives the reader an inside look into the day-to-day life she faced during her heartbreaking, difficult time.

Articles:

Open to  hope

Poem: Together

Walk alone and you will find Memories of yesterday Can destroy your mind. Visions of death and despair Continue to surface Leaving you with fear. Walk alone and you will […]

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Open to  hope

Poem: Listen

Can you hear me? Calling out your name I do each and everyday. Can you see me? My tears are for you And, for Daddy too. Can you feel me? […]

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Open to  hope

Poem: Hate

It tears my heart apart I hate being sad I hate every minute of it. Nothing stops the pain It is so unbearable I hate every moment of it. I […]

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Open to  hope

Poem: Dreaming

When I would awaken From a dream so surreal Daddy use to say to me Dreams are not real. It’s just your imagination Running wild and free I’m right here […]

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Open to  hope

Poem: Get Over It

My question… How do you get over it? I’ve been recently told To get over it! Do you take a death And, just get over it? Or do you grieve […]

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Open to  hope

Grief + Fear = Holding On To Hope

My parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in February, 2006 and as their sole caregiver for almost two years the physical and mental toll it placed on me at times was […]

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Poem: I Want To Go Home

I want to go home And, have my parents Shower me with kisses Tender, but strong hugs And, look into their eyes Feeling safe, as their child. I want to […]

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Open to  hope

Grief – An Ongoing Journey for Me

“There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be aware of a truth, yet until we have felt its force, it is not ours. To the cognition of the […]

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Open to  hope

Poem: Death’s Reality

I wrote this poem over and over in my head for almost two years. I did not write it down on paper until this past August. I was with my […]

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Open to  hope

Poem: Breathe

Child, breathe deeply again Time does not heal. It is how you use time To grieve That helps you heal. Dear, God Grief intrudes upon My daily existence. Robbing me […]

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