Carol Levine 
Living in the Land of Limbo 
Fiction and Poetry about Family Caregiving

Living in the Land of Limbo is the first anthology of short stories and poems about family caregivers. These men and women find themselves in ‘limbo, ‘ as they struggle to take care of a family member or friend in the uncertain world of chronic illness. The authors explore caregivers’ experiences as they deal with family conflicts, the complexities of the health care system, and the impact of their choices on their lives and the lives of others. The book includes selections devoted to caregivers of aging parents; husbands and wives; ill children; and relatives, lovers, and friends. A final section is devoted to paid caregivers and their clients. Among the conditions that form the background of the selections are dementia, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, and pediatric cancer.

Many of the authors are well-known poets and writers, but others have not been published in mainstream media. They represent a range of cultural backgrounds. Although their works approach caregiving in very different ways, the authors share a commitment to emotional truth, unvarnished by societal ideals of what caregivers should feel and do. These stories and poems paint profoundly moving and revealing portraits of family caregivers.

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Carol Levine directs the United Hospital Fund’s Families and Health Care Project. She is a former editor of the Hastings Center Report. In 1993 she was awarded a Mac Arthur Foundation Fellowship for her work in AIDS policy and ethics. She edited Always On Call: When Illness Turns Families into Caregivers (2nd ed., Vanderbilt University Press, 2004).