A beautiful heart -wrenching memoir that elaborates on palliative care for terminally ill patients and the emotions that are attached to it especially if you're the closest person to the patient. Loved reading it. It made me cry at times though which is okay. Tears can be shed for something so beautiful as this book.

A beautiful and well written book. It gives great insight into palliative care of a loved one. Shows so much love and resilience

When Joanne met Alan, she knew that she had finally found the love of her life and the man she would grow old with. So when, after twenty years of marriage Alan was diagnosed with a chronic, and terminal illness, Joanne stepped in to care for the man she loved. In this beautiful, heartfelt book, Joanne details her first decades of life living with Alan and all the ordinary ups and downs this entailed until their life changed forever with a MSA diagnosis because of which Alan decided to use his right of Medical Aid in Dying when his illness became too much to bear.

I really appreciated reading this story, and I really liked how personable and heartwarming the entire tone of the book is detailing Joanne and Alan's relationships, and the special love they shared as well as how they both dealt and lived with Alan's illness until he became too ill to live at home. I really admired Joanne for her stepping up as Alan's partner and carer - and this is only a mere few years since she had to care for her mother dying of dementia, as well as her father still living with dementia as well. At a time in their life that Joanne and Alan should have been enjoying their retirement, Alan began to lose some of his independence because of his symptoms, and Joanne had to take on a full-time role as a carer.

There are definitely times when Joanne's narrative becomes a little bit controlling, and times when she herself admits she acts like a bot of Karen, especially when Alan is moved into a care home but honestly, I understood all of this as who wouldn't be worried about relinquishing control of your loved ones medical needs, and the things that make them more comfortable and happy every day. And some of the things that were missed or forgotten by the nurses caring for Alan in the home were kind of alarming.

I really liked how throughout this book, we know that medical aid in dying is something that Alan was always supportive of and it was something he was always willing to take advantage of if it came to it. It was interesting reading this in a country that currently doesn't support this act (but in my opinion should) and how it all works out from a legal, safe and medical standpoint.

The last few chapters of this book are just heartbreaking yet beautiful at the same time from how Alan was able to choose the date he wanted to die, to then go on and be able to say goodbye to all those who loved him. It was really touching and special to read about Alan's last day at home surrounded by his family and close friends, to close his eyes one last time and be at peace. And yes, I cried like a baby when I was reading it.

I'm also glad that Joanne touched on how grateful she was that Alan had decided to die January 2020, and not hold out till later like she asked him to because if he had, Covid would have happened and Joanne may not have even been able to visit Alan in his care home and his last wish may not have happened how he wanted to.

I would urge people to read this book as I just felt like it was very touching and personal and I'm grateful to have been given an insight into something that is painful, selfless and quite beautiful in its own way.

Alan and Joanne marry midlife and are living happily until at the age of sixty nine, Alan is diagnosed with a rare, fatal, neurodegenerative illness. Knowing that his quality of life will decrease significantly, Alan makes it clear early on that when the time is right he wishes to end his suffering using Colorado’s Medical Aid in Dying.

Walking Him Home is a beautiful memoir of Alan by his wife Joanne. The diagnosis Alan received is extremely unfair but I was left with huge admiration for how they dealt with their day-to-day life. Death and dying is such a taboo subject but I thought it was extremely empowering how Alan had conversations with all his family about his final wishes. I also admired the extent Joanne went to always help Alan feel empowered and dignified despite his illness.

This was a real eye opener - an illness I had never heard of and an insight into end of life care. The journey between Alan's first symptoms to his death was told beautifully and with a lot of love.


(I was left wondering how Joanne is now, and how life after loss is for her (book 2?))

Alan and Joanne marry in midlife and live a happily-ever-after existence until, at sixty-nine, Alan is diagnosed with a rare, fatal, neurodegenerative illness. As he becomes increasingly disabled and dependent on others, and decreasingly able to find joy in life, he decides he wants to end his suffering using Colorado’s Medical Aid in Dying law.

Joanne desperately wants Alan to live, but when he asks for her help completing the Medical Aid in Dying application, she can’t say no. She helps him complete the requirements, hoping deep down that his application will be denied . . . only to be stunned when his medical team approves his request and writes him a prescription for the life-ending drugs.

Told with affection and spiced with humor, Walking Him Home is Joanne’s tale of coming to terms with her kind, funny husband’s illness; of learning to navigate the intricate passageways of caregiving and the pitfalls of our medical system; and of choosing to help Alan in his quest to die with dignity, even though she wants nothing more than to grow old with him. Tender and heartfelt, this is one woman’s story about loving extravagantly—and being loved in kind. I could not look away from the pages for a second. I was completely engrossed in the story from start to finish… A must read! Left me speechless. So heartbreakingly beautiful.

I do love memoirs and this one is no exception. It was a heartbreaking read and had me crying in places. Regardless of this I would recommend reading this book.

Absolutely wonderful, heartbreaking book. I do love memoirs of this kind, having worked in the end of life field for several years.