The Residence at Fitz Farm Book-Signing Draws 100 to York Senior Living Community
YORK, Pa. — At 85 years old, Barbara Combs has achieved a milestone many only dream of: she published her first book this year.
Titled A Lifetime of Love and Addiction, the memoir shares the deeply personal story of her life, love and loss — and her mission to raise awareness about the devastating impact of alcoholism and addiction.
Known as Barb to her friends and family, Combs celebrated the release of her book with a special signing event at The Residence at Fitz Farm senior living community, where she currently resides. More than 100 people gathered to support her and honor the powerful message behind her words.
“The book took me about nine months to write,” Combs said. “It was hard at times because I had to think of some bad memories, but the support I received here at Fitz Farm made all the difference.”
Her journey to authorship began after a fall brought her to the senior living community in York, Pa., as part of her recovery. What started as a temporary stay turned into a life-changing experience.
With encouragement from the Fitz Farm team and her children, Combs transformed her personal experiences into a published memoir. Her daughter Sheral, based in California, edited the manuscript, while her sons Todd and Andy also supported her — Todd illustrated and designed the cover.
“When they brought me to Fitz Farm, I didn’t know anything about the place,” Combs said. “As it turns out, I love it here. It’s very nice and provides me with all of the care I need. Fitz Farm suggested the book signing. I thought it was a great idea.”
Her story is rooted in the tragic loss of her daughter Terri and grandson Justin, both of whom struggled with and succumbed to alcoholism, she said. “They proved to be true warriors in fighting their addiction battles, even though in the end, they lost their lives,” Combs said. “I know a lot about the disease. It’s terrible. I wrote the book to show people the difference between a few drinks and addiction.”
Combs hopes the book will not only help others understand addiction but also offer hope and guidance, particularly to young people. “You could be playing with fire,” she warns. “That’s what I want them to know.”
So far, the response has been overwhelming. “I’ve sold about 120 of the 200 copies we printed,” Combs said. “The reviews on Amazon have been wonderful. I even placed copies in a coffee shop and my hairdresser’s lounge.”
The Fitz Farm community couldn’t be prouder. “Barb is a perfect example that it’s never too late to share your story,” said Charity Cruz, Executive Operations Officer at the senior living community. “Her courage and honesty are inspiring.”
Though she isn’t sure if she’ll write another book, Combs is proud of this accomplishment. “It’s the first book I’ve ever written,” she said. “I will be here at Fitz Farm forever, and I’m going to make use of my time.”
The April 26 book-signing event highlighted how deeply readers connected with Combs’ message, made even more impactful by her sharing it through personal experience.
“It’s not every day that someone writes and publishes a book,” said Kayla Koller, Community Relations Director at The Residence at Fitz Farm. “We had the joy of celebrating one of our very own residents, Barbara Combs, for her incredible accomplishment — the release of her new book, A Lifetime of Love and Addiction.”
“Barbara honored her family, friends, and the team at Fitz Farm who supported her along the way,” Koller continued. “During the event, she shared her inspiring message:
‘Know that there are good things to come. Life goes on — you can do anything you want.’”
Learn more about the book A Lifetime of Love and Addiction.
For more information, contact Kayla Koller, Community Relations Director, The Residence at Fitz Farm, at kkoller@integracare.com or call 717.356.2870.