Laurie Barr - author

Laurie Barr - authorLaurie Barr - authorLaurie Barr - author

Laurie Barr - author

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The Long Fade to Morning - A Caregiving Memoir

The Long Fade to Morning - A Caregiving MemoirThe Long Fade to Morning - A Caregiving MemoirThe Long Fade to Morning - A Caregiving Memoir

When caregiving chooses you, it changes everything.

available for purchase now!

Book titled 'The Long Fade to Morning' by Laurie Barr with a sunset cover image.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 'The Long Fade to Morning,' Laurie Barr shares a powerful and personal memoir detailing her unexpected journey into caregiving as her mother's health declines and she is ultimately diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). As a healthcare executive facing burnout, Laurie steps away from her career to care for both her mother and stepfather, navigating a maze of medical crises, emotional strain, and the slow loss of the woman who raised her. Honest, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful, this book offers support, insight, and inspiration for anyone caring for a loved one through illness and decline.

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Praise for the long fade to morning

Laura H. / Hospice Nurse

Jana D., DLD, Hospice Chaplain & Administrator / Caregiver for a parent with Parkinson's disease

Michelle R., MD, Family Practice Physician / Caregiver for parent

"The Long Fade to Morning by Laurie Barr is a tender tribute to the quiet, complex tension that arises when we are both caregiver and loved one. This dual role, so common yet so rarely discussed, unfolds mostly behind closed doors—often in silence. There is healing when shedding light on this kind of experience, naming the loneliness, the fatigue, and the aching love that coexist in the space between holding on and letting go. For those walking the long road of care and anticipatory grief, this story offers more than comfort. It offers companionship, validation, and a kind of gentle courage. The Long Fade to Morning doesn’t try to fix or simplify the pain. Instead, it honors it—and in doing so, gives hope."

Michelle R., MD, Family Practice Physician / Caregiver for parent

Jana D., DLD, Hospice Chaplain & Administrator / Caregiver for a parent with Parkinson's disease

Michelle R., MD, Family Practice Physician / Caregiver for parent

"This book, 'The Long Fade to Morning,' captures the quiet heroism of caregiving in all its beauty and heartbreak. As a family physician, I’ve witnessed many families rise to the challenge of caring for loved ones—often at great personal cost. Laurie Barr’s story is a deeply honest, compassionate reflection on what it means to show up when it’s hardest. It honors not only her mother’s extraordinary devotion but also the complex emotional terrain of becoming the caregiver for the one who once cared for you."

Jana D., DLD, Hospice Chaplain & Administrator / Caregiver for a parent with Parkinson's disease

Jana D., DLD, Hospice Chaplain & Administrator / Caregiver for a parent with Parkinson's disease

Jana D., DLD, Hospice Chaplain & Administrator / Caregiver for a parent with Parkinson's disease

"The Long Fade to Morning" by Laurie Barr is a must-read for anyone navigating the complex realities of the sandwich generation—caring for aging parents while raising children. With honesty and grace, Laurie Barr offers a deeply personal and unflinchingly real account of walking alongside a loved one through serious illness and the final chapters of life. Her words gave voice to experiences I thought were mine alone, providing comfort, clarity, and guidance. I came away feeling seen, strengthened, and more prepared to ask the questions that matter most as I walk this path with my own parent.

Laurie L., Aging Life Care Manager

Anne-Lise I., Assisted Living Administrator

Jana D., DLD, Hospice Chaplain & Administrator / Caregiver for a parent with Parkinson's disease

In 'The Long Fade to Morning,' Laurie Barr fully addresses the complexity of the parent-child relationship, exploring the dynamics of navigating the medical silos that our healthcare system is built upon. The narrative follows a daughter who faces the challenge of advocating for her mother not only in medical matters but also in physical, mental, and emotional aspects. Those who have endured this emotional roller coaster will find resonance in her journey as a champion for her loved one and their wishes in the end!

Anne-Lise I., Assisted Living Administrator

Anne-Lise I., Assisted Living Administrator

Anne-Lise I., Assisted Living Administrator

Reading Laurie Barr's book, The Long Fade to Morning, was like walking beside someone through a storm—raw, relentless, and real. It gave voice to the silent strength of a child turned caregiver and illuminated the honoring of a beautiful relationship in every hard-earned breath of love and endurance.

Leah M., RN / Healthcare Executive

Anne-Lise I., Assisted Living Administrator

Anne-Lise I., Assisted Living Administrator

Through raw emotion and moments of grace, Laurie Barr's book, The Long Fade to Morning, offers a powerful reflection on love, loss, and what it means to show up for someone at the end of their life. A poignant and unforgettable read.

Akiko E., Caregiver for spouse / Facilitator of MSA/PSP Support Group

Kat H., RN, CNM-NP / Author / Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation

Kat H., RN, CNM-NP / Author / Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation

It is not always easy to be frank about your experiences as a caregiver. In her book, "The Long Fade to Morning," Laurie Barr provides a testament to what a caregiver endures to offer the best care to a loved one. She captures all the ups and downs of caregiving with honesty, humor, compassion, and lots of love.

Kat H., RN, CNM-NP / Author / Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation

Kat H., RN, CNM-NP / Author / Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation

Kat H., RN, CNM-NP / Author / Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation

“The Long Fade to Morning by Laurie Barr is an honest, well-written, and accessible book for all unexpected caregivers. The author does a superb job chronicling her journey and the process of her mother’s decline and ultimate diagnosis. This book serves as a much-needed resource for families struggling to find understanding and support with a difficult-to-diagnose illness. Barr’s thoughtful and candid narrative about her situation is both honest and relatable. I highly recommend it!”

Katie G., Caregiver for parent / Owner of Soak Box

Kat H., RN, CNM-NP / Author / Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation

Brenda B., caregiver for grandparent / member of sandwich generation

In Laurie Barr's poignant narrative, 'The Long Fade to Morning,' we explore a story of heartbreak, devotion, and grace as one walks through the slow unravel of a disease that robs, while discovering the beauty in letting go in love.

Brenda B., caregiver for grandparent / member of sandwich generation

Brenda B., caregiver for grandparent / member of sandwich generation

Brenda B., caregiver for grandparent / member of sandwich generation

Laurie Barr's words gave a voice to the ache of absence and the complicated beauty of love at the end of life in her poignant work, The Long Fade to Morning. Beautifully written, and her mom would be so proud.

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Laurie Barr

Portland, OR

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