Beyond the Shadows of Memory: Navigating Alzheimer’s With Love and Faith

“What do you do when the man who held your hand through decades no longer sees you?”

From the golden shores of Karachi to the grey corridors of London schools—and eventually, the disorienting terrain of Alzheimer’s—Beyond the Shadows of Memory is a profoundly intimate memoir of migration, resilience and enduring faith.

Atiya Saithna’s deeply personal narrative unfolds across continents and decades, tracing her transformation from a wide-eyed daughter and passionate educator to a devoted wife and courageous carer. With luminous prose and searing honesty, she captures the heartbreak of watching her beloved husband, Abdul Qayum, slowly disappear into the fog of Alzheimer’s—and the quiet strength it takes to remain anchored in love.

Interwoven with vivid memories of bustling bazaars, the wild , verdant scent of Allerton’s open pastures, the earthy hush of Harrow’s wooded paths, and whispered prayers over hospital beds, this book is not just a chronicle of loss. It is a tribute to womanhood, the immigrant journey and the redemptive power of faith.

"It wasn’t the sudden loss of a loved one, but the slow erosion of a person… Yet, sometimes the fog lifts, and I see him clearly again."

Who Should Read This Book?
This memoir is for readers who cherish real-life stories of love, spiritual endurance, and the emotional complexity of caregiving. It speaks to caregivers, educators, faith communities, and anyone grappling with change, memory, or grief.

“I used to think love was the shared laughter of youth, the whispered dreams in the dark. Now, I know it’s also the quiet brushing of his hair.”

What Makes It Unique?

• A compassionate and faith-infused portrayal of Alzheimer’s, unlike any other.

• A quiet but revolutionary memoir of womanhood across cultures, careers, and crises.

• Infused with sensory-rich storytelling—from Karachi’s sea breezes to the mists of Yorkshire.

• A rare lens into the South Asian Muslim immigrant experience in postwar Britain.

Emotionally Powerful & Spiritually Grounded
Each chapter pulses with moments both heart-wrenching and hope-giving: from entering an arranged marriage with little idea of what lay ahead, to building a new life in 1970s Britain, to becoming a headteacher in an Islamic school in London.

“He stared intently at the wedding photo.‘Who is that lady?’ he asked. I wanted to scream, ‘It’s me! Your wife!’ But I didn’t. I just smiled and whispered gently, ‘It’s me Qayum, your wife.’"

About the Author
Born in Mumbai, India, grew up in Bangaladesh and Karachi and trained as a teacher in the UK, Atiya Saithna spent over three decades as a pioneering educator and headteacher in schools across London. Her voice is that of a compassionate matriarch, a community leader, and—now—a first-time author with a story the world needs to hear.

PREORDER your copy of Beyond the Shadows of Memory today and discover a life lived with steadfast love, unwavering faith, and the quiet bravery that turns care into a calling.

PUBLICATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 2025