Unscripted - A Memoir

Unscripted - A Memoir by Karen Johnson is the poignant story of Karen and Tony Johnson, childhood sweethearts who met before they were even teenagers. They grew up in rural New Zealand, married young, and together established a family and farming business. Their journey takes a heart-wrenching turn when, twenty-nine years into their marriage, Tony is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just fifty-one years old.

This memoir recounts the story of seven turbulent years as aggressive Parkinson’s turns their lives upside down. Karen shares her experience of caring for her soul mate through these heartbreaking times with honesty and touches of humour. Her narrative highlights how soul-destroying advanced Parkinson’s can be, particularly when paranoia, delusional thinking, and psychosis take hold. These were desperate days for both patient and caregiver.

The overarching theme of ever-present grief weaves through the narrative as this couple lives with a deep love for each other and their family, while steadfastly maintaining a strong foundation of faith and hope.