January 21, 2014

A Caregiver's Journey from Heartbreak to Healing

Losing someone to cancer is incredibly painful. J. Dietrich Stroeh lost his beloved wife Margaret only three months after she was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage Four pancreatic cancer. In his journey as her caregiver he had a lot to learn in a very short period of time. And he had a lot to lose. He chronicles his journey in Three Months: A Caregiving Journey from Heartbreak to Healing (2012 FolkHeart Press). He wrote this 108-page love story and resource guide for caregivers in the hopes that his roller-coaster experiences could help others in a similar situation.

The process of preparing the manuscript which was released three years after his wife passed on helped him come to terms with life’s final passage. It also allowed him to preserve some of the last treasured memories he had of his wife and their final months together. His story is a poignant one that culminates in healing at a level that most people only dream about.

Episode Segments:

Healing Conversations: J. Dietrich Stroeh The motivation for Dietrich's book was the desire to share with others what he learned about caregiving. The heartbreak of losing a loved one and the ability to survive that loss - even heal from it- is the hope he wants to give to others.
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Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

J. Dietrich Stroeh J. Dietrich “Diet” Stroeh is an engineer by trade. He has headed up projects great and small, and managed the Marin Municipal Water District in the midst of one of the worst drought’s on record. That experience was the basis for his first book, The Man Who Made it Rain, co-written with Michael McCarthy. He is a Director of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District and he sits on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Marin. In his spare time he can be found working in his shop on wood projects, restoring cars, and tending to the garden as well as spending time with friends and family. He lives in Marin County with his wife. “Three Months: A Caretakers Journey From Heartbreak to Healing,” is his second book Dietrich's Blog