Download or read book We Know How This Ends written by Bruce H. Kramer and published by U of Minnesota Press. This book was released on 2015-04-01 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nautilus Book Awards — Silver Award Winner 2010 had been a very good year for Bruce H. Kramer. But what began as a floppy foot and leg weakness led to a shattering diagnosis: he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS is a cruel, unrelenting neurodegenerative disease in which the body’s muscles slowly weaken, including those used to move, swallow, talk, and ultimately breathe. There is no cure: ALS is a death sentence. When death is a constant companion, sitting too closely beside you at the dinner table, coloring your thoughts and feelings and words, your outlook on life is utterly transformed. The perspective and insights offered in We Know How This Ends reveal this daily reality and inspire a way forward for anyone who has suffered major loss and for anyone who surely will. Rather than wallowing in sadness and bitterness, anger and denial, Kramer accepted the crushing diagnosis. The educator and musician recognized that if he wanted a meaningful life, then embracing his imminent death was his only viable option. His decision was the foundation for profound, personal reflection and growth, even as his body weakened, and inspired him to share the lessons he was learning from ALS about how to live as fully as possible, even in the midst of devastating grief. At the time Kramer was diagnosed, broadcast journalist Cathy Wurzer was struggling with her own losses, especially her father’s slow descent into the bewildering world of dementia. Mutual friends put this unlikely pair—journalist and educator—together, and the serendipitous result has been a series of remarkable broadcast conversations, a deep friendship, and now this book. Written with wisdom, genuine humor, and down-to-earth observations, We Know How This Ends is far more than a memoir. It is a dignified, courageous, and unflinching look at how acceptance of loss and inevitable death can lead us all to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Download or read book Until I Say Good Bye written by Bret Witter and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2013-03-14 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER What would you do with one last year? Susan Spencer-Wendel was determined to laugh instead of cry. In June 2011, Susan Spencer-Wendel learned she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - Lou Gehrig's disease - an irreversible condition that systematically destroys the nerves that power the muscles. She was 44-years-old, with three young children, and she had only one year of health remaining. She decided to live that year with joy. She left her job as a journalist and spent time with her family. She built a meeting place for friends in her backyard. And she took seven trips with the seven most important people in her life. As her health declined, Susan journeyed to the Yukon, Hungary, the Bahamas, and Cyprus. She went to the beach with her sons and to Kleinfeld's bridal shop in New York City with her teenage daughter, Marina, for a glimpse of the wedding she would never attend. She also wrote this book. No longer able to walk or even lift her arms, she tapped it out letter by letter on her iPhone using only her right thumb, the last finger still working. And yet Until I Say Good-Bye is not angry or bitter. It is sad in parts - how could it not be? - but it is filled with Susan's optimism, joie de vivre and sens of humour. It is a book that, like Susan, will make everyone smile. From a hilarious family Christmas disaster to the decrepit monastery in eastern Cyprus where she rediscovered her heritage, Until I Say Good-Bye is Susan Spencer-Wendel's unforgettable gift to her loved ones and to us: a record of their final experiences together and a reminder that every day is better when it is lived with joy.

Download or read book What Doesn t Kill You written by Tessa Miller and published by Henry Holt and Company. This book was released on 2021-02-02 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Should be read by anyone with a body. . . . Relentlessly researched and undeniably smart." —The New York Times Named one of BuzzFeed's "Best Books of 2021" What Doesn't Kill You is the riveting account of a young journalist’s awakening to chronic illness, weaving together personal story and reporting to shed light on living with an ailment forever. Tessa Miller was an ambitious twentysomething writer in New York City when, on a random fall day, her stomach began to seize up. At first, she toughed it out through searing pain, taking sick days from work, unable to leave the bathroom or her bed. But when it became undeniable that something was seriously wrong, Miller gave in to family pressure and went to the hospital—beginning a years-long nightmare of procedures, misdiagnoses, and life-threatening infections. Once she was finally correctly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Miller faced another battle: accepting that she will never get better. Today, an astonishing three in five adults in the United States suffer from a chronic disease—a percentage expected to rise post-Covid. Whether the illness is arthritis, asthma, Crohn's, diabetes, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, or any other incurable illness, and whether the sufferer is a colleague, a loved one, or you, these diseases have an impact on just about every one of us. Yet there remains an air of shame and isolation about the topic of chronic sickness. Millions must endure these disorders not only physically but also emotionally, balancing the stress of relationships and work amid the ever-present threat of health complications. Miller segues seamlessly from her dramatic personal experiences into a frank look at the cultural realities (medical, occupational, social) inherent in receiving a lifetime diagnosis. She offers hard-earned wisdom, solidarity, and an ultimately surprising promise of joy for those trying to make sense of it all.

Download or read book Navigating Life with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis written by Mark B. Bromberg and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Navigating Life with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis provides accessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date information about the challenges patients, family members, and caregivers face when confronted by ALS. This guide covers all aspects of managing ALS, from the onset of symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and coping strategies, to the use of home health care or hospice, and new research in the field. The book also sheds lights on difficult topics, such as end-of-life care and managing legal affairs. Formatted in a question-and-answer style, peppered throughout with patient stories, and with sections devoted to family members and caregivers, this compassionate resource provides guidance to those seeking to understand how to live with this disease.

Download or read book Eyes to the Wind written by Ady Barkan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-09-10 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this “gripping story of resistance and the triumph of human will” (Senator Elizabeth Warren), activist and subject of the documentary Not Going Quietly Ady Barkan explores his life with ALS and how his diagnosis gave him a profound new understanding of his commitment to social justice for all. Ady Barkan loved taking afternoon runs on the California coast and holding his newborn son, Carl. But one day, he noticed a troubling weakness in his hand. At first, he brushed it off as carpal tunnel syndrome, but after a week of neurological exams and two MRIs, he learned the cause of the problem: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. At age thirty-two, Ady was given just three to four years to live. Yet despite the devastating diagnosis, he refused to let his remaining days go to waste. Eyes to the Wind is a rousing memoir featuring intertwining storylines about determination, perseverance, and how to live a life filled with purpose and intention. The first traces Ady’s battle with ALS: how he turned the initial shock and panic from his diagnosis into a renewed commitment to social justice—not despite his disability but because of it. The second, told in flashbacks, illustrates Ady’s journey from a goofy political nerd to a prominent figure in the enduring fight for equity and justice whose “selfless activism fighting to make health care a right should be an inspiration to us all” (Senator Bernie Sanders). From one of the most vocal advocates for social justice, Eyes to the Wind’s “primary question is existential: how to live when you are dying? Barkan’s answer is to share, open up, act, and capital-R Resist, and his memoir, clearly and candidly written, establishes a legacy” (Booklist).

Download or read book I Remember Running written by Darcy Wakefield and published by Da Capo Press. This book was released on 2006-08-29 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A little over a year ago, Darcy Wakefield was a single, 33-year-old, athletic, workaholic English professor, a vegetarian who had never had a serious health problem or injury. Then she was diagnosed with ALS, and her world turned upside down. I Remember Running is Darcy's story of change and loss and challenges during her first year with ALS, as she struggles to make sense of her diagnosis and redefine herself in the face of this terminal illness. With unflagging courage, wit, and eloquence, Darcy shares what she calls her "fast-forward" life, a life in which she applies for disability, leaves her job, and plans her own funeral as well as meets and moves in with her true love, buys a house, and gives birth to her first child in less time than it takes most of us to accomplish even one of these things. Beautifully written and wholly inspiring, I Remember Running proves that it is possible to live a rich, meaningful life after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. This book will move readers to see the world in a different light.

Download or read book Just Another Adventure written by Marcel Laperriere and published by . This book was released on 2018-07-18 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: LaPerriere's essays describe his struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Living in a small Alaskan city exacerbates the political and physical challenges, but with family and community, this former mountain climber, cave scuba diver and sailor fells the "ALS monster" that robs him of ability after ability with humor and grace.

Download or read book Lucky Man written by Michael J. Fox and published by Hachette Books. This book was released on 2003-04-09 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A funny, highly personal, gorgeously written account of what it's like to be a 30-year-old man who is told he has an 80-year-old's disease. "Life is great. Sometimes, though, you just have to put up with a little more crap." -- Michael J. Fox In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease -- a degenerative neurological condition. In fact, he had been secretly fighting it for seven years. The worldwide response was staggering. Fortunately, he had accepted the diagnosis and by the time the public started grieving for him, he had stopped grieving for himself. Now, with the same passion, humor, and energy that Fox has invested in his dozens of performances over the last 18 years, he tells the story of his life, his career, and his campaign to find a cure for Parkinson's. Combining his trademark ironic sensibility and keen sense of the absurd, he recounts his life -- from his childhood in a small town in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television which made him a worldwide celebrity. Most importantly however, he writes of the last 10 years, during which--with the unswerving support of his wife, family, and friends -- he has dealt with his illness. He talks about what Parkinson's has given him: the chance to appreciate a wonderful life and career, and the opportunity to help search for a cure and spread public awareness of the disease. He is a very lucky man, indeed. The Michael J. Fox Foundation Michael J. Fox is donating the profits from his book to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is dedicated to fast-forwarding the cure for Parkinson's disease. The Foundation will move aggressively to identify the most promising research and raise the funds to assure that a cure is found for the millions of people living with this disorder. The Foundation's web site, MichaelJFox.org, carries the latest pertinent information about Parkinson's disease, including: A detailed description of Parkinson's disease How you can help find the cure Public Services Announcements that are aired on network and cable television stations across the country to increase awareness Upcoming related Parkinson's disease events and meetings Updates on recent research and developments

Download or read book The New Rational Typewriting written by Rupert Pitt So Relle and published by . This book was released on 1923 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis written by Hiroshi Mitsumoto and published by F. A. Davis Company. This book was released on 1998 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides comprehensive background for understanding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a critical review of research. It points out the distinguishing characteristics of the disease and testing procedures for reliable diagnosis.

Download or read book Blitz Your Life written by Tim Shaw and published by Dexterity. This book was released on 2017-01-03 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you've ever dreamed of something more in life, this book is for you. Winner in two categories at the 2018 Benjamin Franklin Awards, Blitz Your Life is a collection of reflections from a former NFL linebacker on a life lived fearlessly and challenges from a man with a sense of urgency for impact. These powerful stories range from Tim's time on the football field to the radically different life and goals that resulted from his diagnosis with ALS in 2014. Tim also shares stories of ordinary people who have faced everyday challenges and accomplished extraordinary things. Whether they sweep floors or rebuild neighborhoods or make music, all are living lives that make a difference. At times funny and others serious, Tim encourages readers to write their own goals and stories while pursuing their dreams. Through his whiteboard challenges, he provides practical help that takes readers on a road to success. From his NFL days to his support of ALS awareness, this fighter's message is a courageous call to find and enjoy a life with purpose.

Download or read book Dance Me to the End written by Alison Acheson and published by Brindle and Glass. This book was released on 2019-10-08 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A profoundly honest and intensely personal story of a woman who cares for her husband after the devastating terminal diagnosis of ALS. Marty, age 57, was given a preliminary diagnosis of ALS by his family doctor. Seven weeks later, the diagnosis was confirmed by a neurologist. Ten months and ten days later, Marty passed away. From day one, Alison, Marty’s spouse of over twenty-five years, kept a journal as a way to navigate the overwhelming state of her mind and soul. Soon the rawness of her words harmonized to tell the story of Marty’s diagnosis, illness, and decline. Her journal became a chronicle of caregiving as well as an emotional exploration of the tensions between the intuitive and the pragmatic, the logical and illogical, and the all-consuming demands of being both spouse and nurse. Divided into short pieces, some of which reads as free verse, Alison’s words are at times profoundly intense and painfully private. The composition of the intricate notes of a life in its final movements includes another stanza of the journal that became Dance Me to the End: the guiding of children grappling with the imminent loss of a parent, and the shifting roles of family, friends, and community—all of which add their own complex rhythms. Dance Me to the End is an evocative memoir about the emotional impact of witnessing a loved one suffer from a neurological, degenerative, and terminal disease. This is a detailed account of grief, shock and pain coexisting with the levity, laughter and love shared with her husband and sons in those final months of Marty's life.

Download or read book The Deanna Protocol written by Vincent Tedone and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-10 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors are in a life and death struggle against a terrible disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which is referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ALS, then you need to read this book. The Deanna Protocol® program was discovered by Dr. Tedone, Deanna's father, only after failing, again and again, with everything that he tried. The massage, non-exhausting exercise and core supplements, which are inexpensive and available without prescription from many suppliers. The program works for many ALS patients. It is not a cure, however, it provides a better quality of life and has been shown in ALS mice to extend life and improve motor skills. The rate of progression of ALS symptoms reported in ALSFRS scores, is markedly reduced in those adhering to the Deanna Protocol® program. There a few side effects reported, and those are manageable for most, if the program is phased in, gradually, over time.

Download or read book Ruthie written by Lynn Miclea and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-12-11 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ruth grew up in the 1920s in a loving home in New York. A peacekeeper by nature, she was the oldest of three sisters and a strong, independent woman. Dedicated to making a difference in the world, she worked as an occupational therapist and devoted her working career to helping others. She married at the young age of nineteen and had two children in a loving and supportive family environment with only the occasional volatile dynamics. But then amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) entered the family's lives. ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, crept in silently. A progressive and fatal motor neuron disease that causes muscle atrophy, ALS is a brutal, debilitating illness that is difficult to diagnose and has no known cure. Filled with heartrending honesty, Ruthie: A Family's Struggle with ALS documents one family's dynamic struggle with the disease. From the initial confusing symptoms to the heartbreaking conclusion, Lynn Miclea's touching words offer insight into this cruel illness and give advice on how to care for a loved one suffering from it. Gripping and dramatic, yet ultimately inspirational, this book will both empower and encourage anyone dealing with a similar progressive, terminal illness.

Download or read book The Joy of Microwaving written by and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Finally, a complete all-in-one volume cookbook that covers the whole spectrum of microwaving, with recipes, menus and meal planning. 750 color photographs.

Download or read book The Luckiest Man written by John R. Paine and published by Nelson Books. This book was released on 2018 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do you experience God's intimate, comforting, tangible presence? In The Luckiest Man, John Paine reveals how he found the answer to this most important of all questions--by facing a terminal diagnosis. At middle age, John Paine thought he knew what it meant to have a relationship with God. He was a successful businessman, a well-respected Christian leader, a Bible teacher, and--outwardly, at least--the spiritual leader of his family. He was satisfied and thought he understood what it meant to know and experience God. But did he? John's journey into true, mystical intimacy with God began when a neurologist diagnosed him with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and said, "Go home and get your affairs in order." Seventeen years later, John tells his story, recounting the ways God intervened in his life, freeing him from all that prevented intimacy with God, even as John slipped into pain, paralysis, and further toward death. In stunning, insightful prose, The Luckiest Man points to the God who lovingly, though occasionally painfully, drew John into the richness of friendship. In this profoundly moving memoir, John Paine reveals the secret to intimacy with God and provides hope to all who are in the middle of their own trials. They, too, will understand why John considers himself the "luckiest man."

Download or read book Don t Buy Too Many Green Bananas Living with ALS written by Delores M. Warner and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2012-10-15 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This memoir was from a journal the author kept regarding the progression of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) as her husband fought this devastating disease. She and her husband were problem solvers, and as she cared for him at home, the two of them worked out ways to compensate for his declining strength. If you know someone who has been diagnosed with ALS, they and their families will find this book provides information on resources and approaches to dealing with the physical aspects, in the story as well as the back of the book for quick reference. As well, the author writes an unflinching account providing insights into coping with such diagnosis with grace.