Page 8 - SAM September 2019

PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE

Welcome

Stranger

By Adam Ratner, MD, 2019 BCMS President

Almost all of us have taken care of a family member with dementia or know someone who
has or will. Many of our patients are also such caregivers and often look to us for day-to-day
guidance whether we can provide it or not.
Approximately two years ago, in my capacity as Chairman of The Patient Institute, I was in-
troduced to Mr. Sherman Macdaniel. Sherman is a retired financial service professional and is
one of the most thoughtful, cordial, and well-spoken individuals I have had the pleasure of
meeting. He also happens to be the grandson of a past president of the BCMS who served us
approximately 100 years ago.
Sherman’s wife of 57 years, Kendall, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia after 53 years
of marriage. The next four challenging years provided Sherman incredible practical and spiritual
insights about coping as a caregiver to a spouse with Alzheimer’s dementia. After Kendall’s pass-
ing, Sherman collected his thoughts and collaborated with a few of his friends who had also
taken care of their spouses with dementia and wrote a monograph titled Welcome Stranger.
Welcome Stranger is a heartfelt and practical guide for anyone taking care of a loved one with
dementia in an easy-to-read format. It contains insights and tips to adapt caregiver commu-
nication and behavior which can make both the patient’s and caregiver’s lives much easier and
less stressful.
Sherman’s mission in this phase of his life is to help those who find themselves taking care
of dementia patients. Partnering with The Patient Institute, Sherman wants to freely distribute
his book to those who will benefit from reading it. As a member of the BCMS, upon request,
The Patient Institute will send you up to 10 free copies for you to read and distribute to your
patients in need. If you find you need more, please let The Patient Institute know. To request
your free copies, please contact Janet Poole at janet@patientinstitute.org.

Dr. Adam Ratner is President of the Bexar County Medical Society and serves as Professor and Interim
Associate Dean of Student Affairs of the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
and Chair of The Patient Institute.

8 San Antonio Medicine • September 2019