The book Struby and I have worked on for over two years is out. Its name is “Counterpunch: Duking It Out With Parkinson’s.” (Cute, huh?)
It chronicles our journey with The Beast in my brain and its profound impact on both of us. (I am doing fine, BTW.)
Struby memorably opens the first of her two chapters this way:
“If you had behaved like this when I met you, I never would have married you.”
Ouch!
Dave Lawrence, retired publisher of The Miami Herald has read the book. He floored Struby and me with this message:
“I love your book for many reasons, among them:
“– The honesty of the story you tell so well. There is no pussyfooting. It is straightforward and then some — and loving, too. You make it all so ‘real.’
“– It will be a great practical and genuine “gift” for so many families.
“I am proud to know you both. The book deserves to be read. “
It’s been an emotional 10 days since the print copies of “Counterpunch” landed on our porch.
Month: January 2019
Our Book Is Out!
Counterpunch: Duking It Out With Parkinson’s by Gil Thelen with C. Struby Thelen
Click the Buy now button to purchase from bookbaby.com
All proceeds from the book go to the Me-Over-PD Foundation.
Overview
A Hall of Fame Newspaper editor describes his turbulent journey of discovery with Parkinson’s. Gil Thelen confronts this malady with infinite faces and—using keen reporting and engaging prose—offers inspirational and practical ways to foil the beastly tenant in his brain. Armed with Cornell medical training, a background of health and medical writing, and activism in national and local Parkinson’s communities, Gil tackles his condition head-on. In two chapters, his wife Struby courageously reveals the devastating impact Parkinson’s and its drugs have had on their marriage.
From both Parkie and care partner perspectives, Gil and Struby bare PD stumbling blocks and share workarounds to counterpunch this condition by taking aggressive action to stay upright, moving, productive, and to NOT be a victim. The perfect read for the newly diagnosed, looking for insights into Parkinson’s, as well as anyone looking for guidance, either personally or professionally to help others, in fighting back against this baffling condition. An outstanding collection of recommended resources and suggestions for Parkies to get informed, get organized and get MOVING.
All proceeds from the book go to the Me-Over-PD 501(c)(3) Foundation, dedicated to creating live, local databases of crucial Parkinson’s resources in communities across the United States.
Seize The Day
I cherish good writing, especially about life’s great mysteries, such as finding hope while facing a monstrous disease.
We Parkies know hope is essential to muster arms each day against the Parkinson’s Beast living in our mental attic.
Kate Bowler is a thirty-something, divinity professor at Duke. She has stage-four colon cancer.
Married with a small child, she lives each day as if it were her last.
She seizes the day.
Bowler shared in a recent New York Times piece the conversation she had with a Duke colleague about hope and happiness.
“Would you agree that true happiness is to enjoy the present without anxious dependence on the future?” he asked Bowler.
Jesus Christ talking? Nope.
“That was Lucius Seneca, the ancient philosopher of Stoicism,” her friend said. “Look, it takes great courage to live as if each day counts. That was a fundamental insight of Stoicism.”
I, too, am the seize-the-day type. Never knew that came from Stoicism. I do now.
Please take a few minutes to read Bowler. She is a splendid writer who makes every word count and every paragraph graceful.
The URL is:
“https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/opinion/sunday/resolutions-hope-cancer-god.html”>https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/opinion/sunday/resolutions-hope-cancer-god.html
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