This month's WhatFriendsDo.com newsletter features  the beginning  of a lovely series written by Marueen O'Hern, based on her experiences of support she received while providing care for her father.

Each day this week we will post another of Marueen's stories on the WhatFriendsDo.com Blog.   Please check back daily for heartwarming and inspirational stories.

The Art of Helping 

My father suffered from vascular dementia, an incremental brain deterioration caused by years of faulty circulation. I took care of him for the last three years of his life, as his dementia progressed from moderate to life-changing. For the most part, people were not much help, and that's the truth of it. But there were instances of inspired, compassionate help that, even now, long after Dad's death, I am still grateful for.

The following thoughts on the Art of Helping are derived from people of intuition, understanding and insight, all essential gifts for any artistic expression.

Being Present

Toward the end of his life, when the dementia was playing out dramatically, Dad was hospitalized for cardiac problems. Like many caregivers, I spent long days at the hospital. The head nurse was named Jean, and she was one of the inspired ones. Click here to read more.