Losing Richard
Love, Loss, and Living with Dementia
Losing a loved one is never easy, but losing them while they are still physically present is a uniquely heartbreaking experience. Losing Richard is a deeply personal and unflinchingly honest account of love, devotion, and the painful journey through dementia. Julie Maxwell takes readers through the highs and lows of caregiving—revealing the quiet grief, the unexpected moments of grace, and the profound resilience that emerges in the face of loss.
This book is more than a memoir. It’s a testament to enduring love and an intimate reflection on how illness reshapes relationships, identity, and the human spirit.
About The Author
Julie Maxwell
Julie Maxwell is an award-winning artist, a devoted mother, and a woman who has built a life alongside love, creativity, and resilience. Her world shifted dramatically when her husband, Richard, was diagnosed with dementia.
With raw honesty, Julie shares the emotional and physical toll of caregiving—the uncertainty, the exhaustion, and the quiet strength it demands. Through her words, she captures the essence of a love that refuses to fade, even as memory and time work against it.
Her story is one of adaptation, courage, and learning to live with complexities of life.
About The Book
Losing Richard:
A Love Story Redefined
Holding On, Letting Go, and Living with Dementia
Losing someone you love is painful—but losing them while they are still physically here is a grief like no other. Losing Richard is an intimate, deeply moving memoir by Julie Maxwell, chronicling her journey as a wife and caregiver through the relentless progression of dementia.
What began as a golden marriage—filled with laughter, adventure, and shared dreams—slowly transformed into a story of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of love. This book offers a raw, heartfelt look at the challenges of caregiving, the quiet heartbreak of watching someone fade, and the unexpected moments of grace that make it all worth it.
More than just a memoir, Losing Richard is a tribute to love’s ability to withstand even the most heartbreaking of trials.
Print length
96 pages
Language
Publication date
Feb 2025
Meet the Woman Behind the Story
Julie Maxwell: Artist, Mother, and Unbreakable Spirit
Julie Maxwell is more than just a storyteller—she is a woman who has faced life’s most difficult challenges with grace and strength. An award-winning artist, a devoted mother, and the wife of a brilliant, charismatic man, Julie’s world changed forever when Richard was diagnosed with dementia.
Her journey of caregiving was one of profound transformation, forcing her to navigate grief in real time, all while holding on to the love they had built. Through her raw honesty and deep reflections, Julie brings to light the silent struggles of so many caregivers—those who love fiercely, even as they lose the person they love.
Her story is not just about loss. It is about resilience, adaptation, and the unbreakable bond that exists even when memories begin to fade.
Inside the Pages of Losing Richard
This book takes you on an emotional, eye-opening journey through:
The First Signs
Recognizing the subtle shifts—the forgotten conversations, the misplaced objects, the changes that seem small but speak volumes.
Navigating the Unknown
The overwhelming responsibilities of caregiving, the daily challenges, and the quiet grief of watching someone slip away.
Moments of Grace
Amid the struggle, there is beauty—small, fleeting moments of connection that remind us love is still present.
Love, Redefined
How illness reshapes relationships, shifting the meaning of partnership, devotion, and what it truly means to love "in sickness and in health."
Losing Richard is an honest, heartfelt look at what it means to care for someone with dementia—capturing the pain, the love, and the undeniable human spirit that keeps going.
More Than a Memoir—A Guide for the Heart
For Caregivers, Loved Ones, and Those Seeking Comfort
This book is more than a story; it is a space where a person can imbibe some understanding and hope in their journeys through dementia, caregiving, or grief.
Julie Maxwell writes as though offering a hand through the dark, assuring readers that they walk with others in their struggles. What she has lived through speaks to love and loss’s common human predicaments, yet it becomes a lighthouse guiding those on the same path.
What Readers Are Saying
Questions You May Have
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this book for caregivers only?
No. While Losing Richard speaks very deeply to caregivers, it speaks also to anyone who has ever loved, lost, or met the reality of change in a relationship.
Is the book sad?
This book is emotional, but it is also an infusion of love, resilience, and hope. It’s about finding strength during the hardest times.
What makes this book different from other dementia memoirs?
Julie Maxwell uses the eye of an artist and the heart of a caregiver, contrasting raw honesty with poetic reflection and penetrating emotional insight.
Where can I get the book?
You may order it right now online from Amazon
Can I give the book to a friend who is in a situation similar to mine?
For sure! This book is meant to accompany those who are needing it the most.