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Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All
Tales from the Bed On Living Dying and Having It All
Author: Jenifer Estess, Valerie Estess
Jenifer Estess is a woman on the verge: She's about to launch her own company; she's looking buff and dating vigorously; she's driving in the fast lane -- with the top down. At the age of thirty-five, Jenifer dreams of falling in love and starting a family. Then she notices muscle twitches in her legs. Walking down a city block feels exhausting....  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780743476829
ISBN-10: 0743476824
Publication Date: 5/18/2004
Pages: 224
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 25

3.8 stars, based on 25 ratings
Publisher: Atria
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Loved the book. Great inspirational story.
reviewed Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A heart-wrenching autobiography of a young woman suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Easy to read, though not intellectually challenging, which is why I'm posting it.
booboo4584 avatar reviewed Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is a great book,but a sad one.. I can relate to it because I lost my dad from ALS.
rolltide1al avatar reviewed Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All on + 223 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Loved this book. I can't imagine going through what this brave woman had to endure. I felt so badly for Jenifer. Better have lots of tissues handy before you begin reading this book.
reviewed Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All on + 130 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful true story!
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reviewed Tales from the Bed : On Living, Dying, and Having It All on
Jenifer Estess was a beautiful, healthy, and successful woman who was in her thirties when she was diagnosed with the fatal disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Also commonly known as Lou Gehrigs disease, ALS is a neuromuscular disease that destroys cells in the brain and spine called motor neurons. Without motor neurons, the brain cannot tell the muscles what to do. Without directions from the brain, muscles cannot function. Without muscles, a person cannot do anything, including walking, swallowing, or breathing. The discovery of ALS gave Jenifer a lot more to live for in her final months.
Faced with the newly attested diagnosis, the effects of ALS hit almost instantly. She started losing one ability every week and noticed other tasks becoming increasingly difficult. While Jenifer and her family and friends were preparing for Jenifers last months, they also tried everything to stop the disease in its tracks. They were searching for the impossible cure. They tried anything and everything, from healers and masseuses to snake oils and diets. They were running out of ideas.
Without any ideas of their own left, Jenifers friends and family started a program called Project ALS. The focus of Project ALS was to raise money to create more initiative for doctors to find a cure of ALS. Jenifers family and friends got started right away by calling in a few favors. Celebrity guests hosted benefit dinners and dances, and Jenifer would be speaking at multiple conferences. They raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for research grants.
Despite the doctors work still in progress and her deteriorating muscles, Jenifer continued with her life and urged her family to continue with theirs. She gave into the hype of wheelchairs and electric beds and was able to become a little more independent. With the help and support of friends and family, Jenifer came to terms with her disease but still remained hopeful. Tales from the Bed is touching and inspiring, written about a young woman who failed to have her ideal fairy tale life, but kept pushing on as if she could still turn her fate around.


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