From a Polio survivor
591300
I had polio of the spine in 1948 at the age of seven, and I'm about to have surgery.
The operation is mainly to repair damage in the pelvic area, which had been affected.
My surgeons asked me to get some information on the effects of Post Polio Syndrome, if I could.
I searched the Internet and the name of this book kept coming up, so I went to Amazon.com to see if I could obtain it.
Fortunately there was a second-hand one available, so I ordered it. When it arrived here in New Zealand,in good condition, I gave it to the surgeons - they tell me that it is most informative and helpful for them and gives them good information on how to manage my operation and recovery.
So hopefully I will benefit from having a well informed medical team, and because of that, other polio survivors will share these benefits should they find themselves in the position I am in- with muscle damage as a result of having had polio.
A good book.
156241
I had a very bad stroke three years ago. I even had surgery. I loved this move. The only differance betweem me amd him was modern medicine. It brought back many memories. Very  accurate. Very inspirational. I still go to therapy and I still have a limited range of motion. I can now touch my ear with the effected hand/arm.  It made me realize how much I can do.
746781
It's Not Yet Dark is the memoir of Irish Film Director Simon Fitzmaurice.  In 2008, the author was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.  He was given 3-4 years to live.

I am a nurse and had a patient in 2012 that was diagnosed with ALS.  I was with him on his journey, helping him with his activities of daily living, and going to a  local chapter of ALS monthly support groups, where I met dozens of people afflicted with the same dreadful disease.  I cared for this man up until his death one year later.  A retired and decorated veteran, he was in his late seventies and chose not to ventilate.

Mr. Fitzmaurice was young, successful, madly in love with his wife, and the father of 3 young boys when he was diagnosed with ALS.  He had the support of not only his wife, Ruth, but extended family and friends.  As the disease progressed, he dealt with the loss of control, and in fear of the future. He and his family continued to live day to day.  A bout of pneumonia and respiratory failure found the author in the hospital on a respirator.  His doctors persuaded him to let the disease take its course, as Ireland is not big on ventilating ALS patients. The author describes in the book why he was not ready to die from ALS, and chose to live on a respirator.

Even though  the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2012 made ALS more familiar to the population as a whole, most people do not fully understand the depths of this horrific disease.  The patient loses their ability to talk, swallow, breathe, and move voluntarily.  They may retain some facial muscle movement, eye movements, and as the author describes in the book, full feelings of touch, including sexual function.  (This I did not know :).)

With the use of eye-gaze computer technology, the author continues his story.  When describing why he would want to live, he answers why not?  Truly he has a charmed life.  This is not a man living in a facility,  depending on strangers for care.  He lives in his home, with nurses brought in, and his wife being the principal caregiver.  The joy of being alive is present in this man man because he accepts his situation and is surrounded by the people that love him on a constant basis.

There are some parts in this book that are amazing to read and I wish the author could have  expanded on them a bit.  For instance, he describes being on the street, and how children look at him. Sometimes women do.  Men rarely look at him.  Thought-provoking.

I read this book in less than two hours. It's about 160 pages.  If you enjoy memoirs, this is a pretty good one.  If you are doing research on ALS, there is not much of that in this book. the author does write about alternative (fake) treatments he sought out, and the disappointing results.  This book focuses more on the author, his past and present life experiences, etc.  The book is more about the man, and not the disease that has tried to eliminate him.
1945633
What an awful thing to happen to a very brave American G.I. How did his records get lost? Why did it take so long for him to get his medals and the care that he so deserved? How did this happen? He was treated like a coward which he by far was not!!! Why did he have to suffer so badly, and for so long? I am just filled with questions. How many others have gone through something like this, and are still fighting their silent war to just get health care? I am so grateful to Joseph J. Lindley for writing this well documented book. I knew Calvin, and knew only a tiny bit of what he went through. He was always in pain, and having that said,always had a smile. The United States Army and the Veterans Administration should be so ashamed of what THEY let happen!
3146238
A lot of Polio survivors suffer from post-polio and are having problems as they age, some do not know what is happening to them and many doctors do not know how to diagnos post-polio.  I have  given this book to several of my doctors to help them help me.  I also read the book often to retain the issues and solutions (if any)for my own education of my disease/
3291244
As a fellow survivor (lost my husband 2.5 years ago), I appreciate the author's approach in writing a memoir that is both sad and funny--not an easy task given how truly devastating it is to go through this kind of loss. I found it helpful and hopeful and will recommend to my widow friends.
4122244
This was one of the first books I read after my son was diagnosed with autism, and I am thankful for that. It provided hope when I needed it the most. Thank you, Marcia Hinds, for sharing your story so openly and honestly and providing inspiration for fellow parents trapped on Autism Island.
3607173
The author's willingness to share so much in a brutally honest way amazes me. She had to research and revisit, or learn for the first time in many instances, how bad she was doing physically and mentally and how close she came to death or possible lifelong institutionalization. Then, she  openly bares herself for all to read. I learned so much and am truly fascinated by the  bodies ability to betray itself. I, too, have autoimmune  disease (Crohn 's Disease and Rhuematoid Arthritis) so I am aware of this type of illness but had not heard of it affecting the brain. I also am a  Professional Counselor so my curiosity is definitely  piqued about the possibility of misdiagnosis in patients...Thank you so much for sharing your story!
3562507
My wife is also a survivor and its interesting to see the different paths people took after the war. I thought the writing was from the heart. Good simple thoughts from a man who managed to make a life again. I am a friend if his nephew who told me about the book.
1175002
It was an interesting story and kept me glued to the book.  Being a nurse, I was really interested in the description of the "polio victims."  The  interactions and cultural aspects of the extended family were so well described.  I felt I got to know all the main characters.  It seemed to me that there should have been another chapter or two telling the reader what happend to all the characters.  It was as if the book/story was left up in the air--not completed.
216107
What an amazing story of survival!  Thank you for sharing your story. And the charity work is inspiring, too. Educating women will make a big impact for the better.
4196970
Each case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome is different---for the patient, for the doctors, and for the caregivers.
WE ARE ALL COURAGEOUS in that we have fought very hard for the chance to just LIVE and hopefully to obtain as much percentage of recovery as we can.
I was diagnosed correctly on the 10th day of onset.
By that time, I was paralyzed from the neck down.
Treatment consisted of IVIG and therapy in the hospital
for 2 weeks and then I was transferred to the REHAB center for 9 weeks. I was actually put into a room where
a GBS patient had previously occupied and he and his wife
visited me and encouraged me.
The therapy was grueling but productive and I learned once again, just like a baby does, how to get out of bed,
sit up, walk and brush my teeth without assistance.

After 3.5 years, I am still in a wheelchair most of the day but can walk with assistance for a very short distance ie, across a room. For long distances, I have to use the power chair. The leg cramps that feel like snakes crawling in my legs are still there periodically and are unlike anything I've ever experienced. Since experiencing GBS, I frequently 'feel that I'm in another realm' in my dreams and my almost-awake hours. Very strange.
I read everything I can read on GBS because I am still in the recovery period and interested in comparing notes with others who have travelled the same route.
While in REHAB, one of my visitors who had previously had
GBS, recommended BED 10 for me to read.
She's a precious saint who had GBS back in the 70s and
stayed in ICU for about 8 months.

My physician says I have recovered 95% now.
If I never recover the other 5%, it's o.k. for my life is in God's hands and I am happy to be back at church playing the piano for all worship services. At 73 years of
age, that is a blessing and an answer from God for all the prayers that went up for me.
I have a hard time understanding anyone being snide about this syndrome and those of us who have gone through it. It takes courage, faith, and patience to endure and
overcome and I feel I have done that so mark me down as COURAGEOUS and BLESSED! AMEN!!
2421746
In the shortage of professional literature on post polio syndrome, this is probably the best book existed. It gives a plane view to a reader who would like to be more familiar with that not-completely-researched entity. Since the post polio is the field of my professional interest, I can see some minuses in the book (eg. the problem of cold intolerance is only mentioned, but not discussed). However, every book when it comes out of print, allready misses the latest findings, the same is true for Halstead`s work.
4461119
The subtitle tells the truth about the scourge that brought calamity to so many lives. Battling is what the victims did, battling is was what the doctors did, battling is what the mothers did when they marched against this dread disease. Each year during the polio times my mother and her friends met in the kitchen, stood around drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes, and planned their battle strategy: They were going to go out into that cold night into that poor Queens neighborhood and wring as much money as possible from whoever answered the door. They were sure that sooner or later the money that they raised would conquer the small RNA virus that was plaguing their families. And, in theirown way, they did help win the war. So here we have the authentic history of the polio years in Texas, the real quill, told in fast, clear, language with much detail and a deep understanding of the human heart. Heather spent plenty of time and energy getting the facts straight and then using her great skill as a writer in getting the story told in an interesting and satisfying manner. Her book is recommended to those who want to know what happened, who helped (most of the clinical studies of the vaccine were done in Russia), who did't help and why. The problem got solved eventually by the cooperative efforts of many people. If only we could have similar cooperation in health care reform!
3299257
This is one amazing story written by James Walker about his love for his disabled daughter, Jessica.  My heart goes out to James and his wife Renee and their two other children who love and care for Jessica, they accept her for who she is without question!  Jessica was born into a wonderful family that wanted to care for her and not institutionalized her, I give them a lot of kudos that shows how much they loved Jessica not to subject her to an awful life in one of those places.  I have read in the past how the vaccines we use on our babies and children are dangerous.  I remember when my son was a baby how the pads, doctor would hand you a paper to sign and in legalese explaining if your child had a reaction to a vaccine you are to call this number, blah, blah, blah, and you would be awarded $1,000,000,00 for expenses for that child's life.  I laughed at it thinking only 1 million dollars??? That will not cover a child's lifetime with medical for expenses.  My son, I remember him getting the DPT shot, he ran a fever and was fussy after each shot.  I don't think the MMR shot was any better.  I remember on one occasion my son got 4 shots in one visit, now I wish I knew back then that was so BAD for an infant!  Also the polio vaccine was given orally and was a live virus and it was later changed to a shot 1st time it is administered and then the oral vaccine, children and the adult caretaker were getting polio from the oral vaccine.  China even made a better DPT shot after using our DPT vaccine and found it too dangerous to use on infants, so why doesn't our country make a better vaccine for our infants safety?!?!
I can also relate to Jim and Renee when Jessica went in for scoliosis surgery, my son has had scoliosis since he was 18 months old and was fused at 12 years old when it had progressed very badly, like Jessica, it was near his heart and other organs were being compromised that he could die from scoliosis.  I remember that surgery as it is a very long surgery and afterwards their is a lot of pain and suffering from the fusion and several days NICU and getting them off the vent safely, plus they have a chest tube for drainage from the lung.  It is a very scary time for all parents watching their children suffer through this surgery!
I will keep Jim and Renee and their family in my prayers.  May their love in God keep them strong and blessed.

I received a free copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.
4208344
I connected with this story since I lived through that summer of the polio epidemic.  Dr. Salk's vaccine seemed like a miracle back then.  It is hard to imagine anyone being in an iron lung for the length of time that Vivian was in it.  She was amazing accomplishing all the things that she did.  I am sure many people under the same circumstances wanted to pull the plug.  Good read happy/sad ending.
1553859
I suffered, boy did I suffer, from PPD 4 months after my daughter was born.  It was like running into a brick wall while running and looking the other way.  This book could have possibly saved my life.  I called Dr. Bennett herself and asked her to help me and my family.  Since she lives around where I am she took me on as a patient, and helped me so much.  I love her for it, and I loved this book even before I met her.  If you are suffering from this terrible condition do not keep it to yourself...there is help you just have to keep telling people how bad you feel until someone listens.  You are NOT ALONE!