Illness came calling when Richard M. Cohen was twenty-five years old. A young television news producer with expectations of a limitless future, his foreboding that his health was not quite right turned into the harsh reality that something was very wrong when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For thirty years Cohen has done battle with MS only to be ambushed by two bouts of colon cancer at the end of the millennium. And yet, he has written a hopeful book about celebrating life and coping with chronic illness.
"Welcome to my world," writes Cohen, "where I carry around dreams, a few diseases, and the determination to live life my way."
Autobiographical at its roots, reportorial, and expansive, Blindsided explores the effects of illness on raising three children and on his relationship with wife, Meredith Vieira (host of ABC's The View and the syndicated Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). Cohen tackles the nature of denial and resilience, the ins and outs of the struggle for emotional health, and the redemptive effects of a loving family. And while dealing with illness is not the way he chose to live his life, it did choose him.
You are right Ellen, it is a very individual disease but I found Richard Cohen's descriptions very helpful and enjoyed the personal touches about his family.
Blindsided
Written by Ellen from Colorado Springs, CO
on August 2nd, 2005
Book Rating: 1/5
Insightful for those without or newly diagnosed with MS in order to become educated whith this serious, often misunderstood, debilitating neurological disease. But to those of us who have suffered with this disease, we've been there and are dealing with it on a daily basis having our lives as we once knew it stripped from us without warning. What works for one often times doesn't work for others. It is a very indivdual disease.
Lacks motivational factors
Written by Anonymous on April 4th, 2005
Book Rating: 1/5
Opening remarks indicate that the book will discuss coping with illness and finding inner strength; however, the book focuses only on the authors' misery. I was looking for motivation or some sort of enlightenment; I got neither.
