The Chickens Are Out

Mark Stone, a middle-aged man who runs a small business, and his second wife, Kathy, enjoyed a simple, quiet life raising chickens at their new home in rural Ohio.  But the peace and tranquility of their new life is disrupted when Kathy–a Biology professor–shows symptoms of dementia.

   Mark, who loves his new wife, is suddenly faced with many challenges that he didn’t expect–finding a doctor to correctly diagnose and treat Kathy proves to be very challenging; getting Kathy to give up driving, and with it, her independence, is an even bigger challenge.

   When Kathy’s dementia progresses to the point where she needs round the clock supervision, he takes an early retirement.  He becomes her full time caregiver. But, accustomed to being out and about, tending to his business, Mark doesn’t readily adapt to his new role in life; and his own health begins to fail.