The Rocky Road Trilogy

Sylvia is the wife of Brian – one of our much-loved and very dear residents at Princess Christian Care Home. The ‘Outstanding’ CQC rated Home is Nellsar’s flagship Surrey Care Home and was home to Brian throughout his Dementia journey. A qualified Nurse, Reiki Master, Transformational Coach and successful author, Sylvia is delighted that the third book in her trilogy about her and Brian’s Dementia journey has just been published.

No one can be fully prepared when suddenly faced with a Dementia journey with a loved one. Sylvia’s professional nursing and care background, master coaching and a deep spiritual faith were supposed to facilitate living out a ‘plan’ according to her perceived best option of ‘doing it all at home’. However, reality soon set in around facing up to accepting input from the Care Home sector to best manage her husband’s Young Onset Alzheimer’s journey.

Acceptance and adjustment to the ongoing disappearance of a man she loved dearly was key to coping. Many lessons were learned along the way which resulted in putting pen to paper and creating material to help other Carers facing their own journey with a loved one. Sylvia’s three books are all available to buy on Amazon:

The Rocky Road of Naughty Neurons: About Sylvia Bryden-Stock’s journey with her husband, diagnosed with Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease – the ups and downs and how she taught herself to create inner calm. With tips all the way through, this aims to help the reader with their own journey.

The Rocky Road of 24/7 Care: Continuing Sylvia’s journey with her husband as they both adjust to the five-star care in Princess Christian Care Home instead of living out the original plan to ‘do it all at home’. The ups and downs of emotions, creating moments of inner peace, new learnings and becoming a part of the ‘Nellsar family’, were all part of this phase of their journey together.

The Rocky Road to Peace and Purpose: Sylvia, in her third book, now shares the late stages of the Alzheimer’s journey of her husband with you and her first year of moving into a new life without his physical presence. It is interspersed with information to help carers with their own journey of grief and loss. You will read how Sylvia lived her grieving journey with a determination to grieve positively. Everyone’s grief journey is unique but there are some powerful tips to help readers in the day-to-day experience of grieving their loss.

Sylvia is very much a part of our Nellsar family. As the pandemic restrictions ease, we are really looking forward to seeing her again as she visits all of our Homes throughout Kent, Surrey and Essex. Sylvia will be conducting a book tour throughout which she will meet with our Care Home Managers, residents and their families. Visitors and staff can enjoy a personal reading from Sylvia, an informal Q&A session and the opportunity to receive personally signed copies of her books.

View a preview of ‘The Rocky Road to Peace and Purpose’ below.