Books About Being Sick

'When Breath Becomes Air' by Paul Kalanithi. Also, here are some authors you may want to check out: Atul Gawande, Danielli Ofri, Oliver Sacks, Theresa Brown, Sandeep Jauhar, Sherwin Nuland. And the list goes on. You can check out summaries of these authors and their books on a website like GoodReads for more information.

Thank you! I love Atul Gawanda and Oliver Sacks but many of these authors are new to me. I'm happy to have a reading list!

@mir123 Here is a book I recommend:
https://www.amazon.com/Chronically-Happy-Joyful-Chronic-Illness/dp/1482562332
Lori Hartwell is the founder of Renal Support Network [rsnhope.org] and has been quite influential in my own life.

Living and thriving with a chronic health condition is not for the faint-hearted!
Ginger

Three books I’ve read over the past few months from authors who had AML~Acute Myeloid Leukemia and required a bone marrow transplant. I had a very aggressive form of this leukemia 4 years ago and thought I was finally in the position to read other people’s accounts of the process.

All three books (full titles and authors below) were given to me by friends. Before receiving the first book, Between Two Kingdoms, at about year two post crisis, my friend asked it was ok to send it to me or would it be too soon? Honestly, I felt I was sound enough mentally to read it. But I only got about 1/4 of the way through and broke down with a PTSD moment. Each time I picked it up again I faced a new round flashbacks, or tears or realized I was holding my breath or nodding along with the author. But those moments served to be a catharsis which helped me process what I experienced.

Each book took on its own flavor as the writer recounted their very personal journey through the intense chemo required to rid the body of leukemic cells in an effort to reach a temporary remission until a donor is available for stem cells to transplant.

The 2nd book, Lotus in the Fire; The Healing Power of Zen took place in 1995 when bone marrow transplants were somewhat rare…a new frontier. So the technology and procedures are very, very dated! I bring that up so anyone about to go through this life saving treatment doesn’t get scared off! It’s not anything like the author or his donor had to endure! We’ve come a long way!

I devoured the book and felt such an affinity with the writer. I admire Jim Bedard for his tenacious fight for life and also found that had practiced many of the same calming techniques of mindfulness which helped me get through some of the tougher days.

Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life: A Memoir by Delia Ephron,
is an enjoyable, heartwarming, sad, funny, poignant true story. It was such a delight to read that I plan on picking it up again soon. Delia’s approach to treatment and coping involved so many friends surrounding her! It was completely contrary to my own experience, where I tend to do everything quietly and privately.

Anyway, @mir123, these are the 3 books I’d recommend for anyone wanting feel the extreme lows and ultimate highs of survival when faced with a life threatening disease.

~~~~~~~~
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted Kindle Edition
by Suleika Jaouad

Lotus in the Fire Lotus in the Fire: The Healing Power of Zen by Jim Bedard

Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life: A Memoir by Delia Ephron

Thank you so much. It's heartening to hear from you about what books spoke to you. I've actually read the Delia Ephron out of loving her sister's writing--and they also worked together. Will read the other two--I was a Zen student for many years so that holds particular interest.

Thank you! I'm putting this on my to-get list...right now I've got a NET in breast, which is unusual, but I was disabled almost 50 years ago by swine flu (after effects somewhat like very long Covid but unknown at the time). So this approach is of great interest to me.

Good morning, @mir123 There’s another book I wanted to share that became somewhat of a bible for me. My daughter had gotten it for me at the start of my journey, or my odyssey as I like to call it. She had benefited from this book several years early when dealing with some trauma in her life. I don’t tend to read many self-help/coping books but this one spoke to me on so many levels.

Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness Paperback – September 24, 2013 by Jon Kabat-Zinn (Author)
Thich Nhat Hanh (Preface)

I wish you well in your own health walk-about…

Great recommendation--I've heard it is terrific. I'm starting to see new books piled by my pillow. I like to read in bed at any quiet moment.

Books are part of my coping skills. I’ve read Suleika Jaouads, A Memoir of a Life Interrupted and A Woman’s Guide to Living With Heart Disease by Carolyn Thomas. I can’t say enough about this book if you’ve living with a history of heart disease, heart attack and bypass. Suleika posts weekly on how she deals with her treatment through writing and painting and Carolyn advocates for women with heart disease by educating. I just read another book, How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness, involves learning to reframe your thoughts about aging and illness.

Thank you so much! Basically for me, to live is to read...