Local woman, Kate Ramsay of Goonengerry, launched her self-published memoir at the Mullumbimby Bookshop on Saturday, December 12, and more than 60 people crammed into the shop to show their support.
Kate’s book, Go With Love, is a love story and a death story about her life with her late partner Des. They came to the shire from Sydney in the mid-1990s and for a time all went well as they settled in rented accommodation in Suffolk Park and subsequently purchased a home in Goonengerry.
But in 2000, Des was diagnosed with a rare neurological degenerative disease and the book focuses on how life changed for Des and Kate as the disease progressed.
Kate cared for Des at home with the help of many local support services, which enabled her to also continue her career as a leadership and vision coach. As well as giving her a break from being Des’s primary carer, her work provided much-needed income to support the household and meet medical expenses.
Des died at the end of June 2005 in the middle of what insurers later described as a one-in-50-year storm.
Kate’s hope with this book is that, just as she gained solace and learning from reading others’ stories, her book will be helpful for those who have, or are caring for, a dying loved one.
For more information about Go With Love – a memoir about love, loss and learning, go to www.gowithlovebook.com.
