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Author's mom helped him find out who he is by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver 7 | Friday, May 9, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com As Oakville's Andrew Glascoe's (pen name) mother lay in her hospital bed, unable to speak, he realized he didn't know a lot about her. It drove him to delve into her life history and what he found, he calls "scandalous and shocking." "I realized there was so much about my family I didn't know," Glascoe said. "So I asked, `What do I know about myself?'" The result of his journey of discovery is the book, Nobody Knew She Was There, the true story of a mother, who rose to the challenges of surviving the Second World War with family intact. She lived a passionate and deeply-troubled life and suffered the loss of her identity during a slow death from an affliction that stole her mind. It is also the story of her family members, trying to de-mystify the woman they thought they knew. It is also Glascoe's story, reflecting on identity, family myths and death. Glascoe's mom, Maggie, was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease in her late 60s. "It started with her forgetting things. We would make plans to meet at familiar places and she was unable to find her way. My dad died and she was left in my care," Glascoe said. "It progressed to where she was not able to take care of herself and almost burning down the house." Maggie spent the last few years of her life mostly in a fetal position in her hospital bed, unable to speak or recognize her son. The book is written like a novel with flashbacks and many strands to the story. Glascoe says it has many light and humorous moments and speaks to the strangeness, enigmatic and wonderful character of family. "I tried to tell a story about a terrible affliction while also trying to say something about myself and my family," he said. "It is a story about, and for, everybody. There is so much I learned that I want to share that will be of some help to people. After they read the book, people tell me their own family stories. If it helps people open up to their families and what they are about, I think that's great." Nobody Knew She Was There is available at amazon.ca. The kobo edition is at indigo.ca. CONCRETE · DRIVEWAYS · FRENCH CURBS · PATIOS · STEPS · WALKWAYS "She was unable to focus on my face when I would come across her line of vision." Glascoe started writing while sitting in the hospital. "I wanted to tell this tragic story, but also to say something about life and about death. It's about what I learned about the disease, about my mom, my family and myself. "You think you know who you are. It is so easily snatched away from us by the unforeseen circumstances of life." · GARAGE FLOORS uality At Its Best! Call Fernando EXPOSED AGGREGATE (Pebble) 905-844-5518 · 1-888-944-5518 www.concretetrimmings.com FREE ESTIMATES Same or Next Day Delivery to oakville Great big Green Super Sac Huge Sac... Small Price! black soil Delivery iNcluDeD Home of the only $ buy 2 SacS Save $20! 4080 Fairview Street, Burlington (between Walkers & Appleby) 905-633-7226 Hours: Mon.-Wed. 10-6 · Thur.-Fri. 10-8 · Sat. 10-6 · Sun. 12-5 1 1 9 + $5 refundable deposit on sac 1.866.465.8657