health

Jai Pausch tells about being a caregiver to her husband during his fight with pancreatic cancer and relates how she carried on after his death.

Diane Ackerman explains what it was like when her husband suffered a stroke and lost his language abilities, describes her plan to design a program of word games specifically for her husband, and reflects on the success of her approach.

The author discusses her relationship with her boyfriend and how it changed when she became pregnant, and the child was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disorder.

"Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of three, Mallory Smith grew into a determined, talented young woman who inspired others even as she raged against her illness. Despite the daily challenges of endless medical treatments and a deep understanding that she'd never lead a normal life, Mallory was determined to 'live happy,' a mantra she followed until her death. Mallory worked hard to make the most of the limited time she had, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford, becoming a CF advocate, and embarking on a career as a writer. Mallory recorded her thoughts and observations, including the struggles and feelings she found too personal to share during her life, for more than ten years, leaving instructions for her mother to publish her work posthumously. She hoped that her writing would offer insight to people living with, or loving someone with, chronic illness"--Provided by publisher.

"At only eight months old, identical twin sisters Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome- a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. They were the first twins known to survive it. Growing up, Ariel and her sister endured numerous appearance-altering procedures. Surgeons would break the bones in their heads and faces to make room for their growing organs. While the physical aspect of their condition was painful, it was nothing compared to the emotional toll of navigating life with a facial disfigurement. Ariel explores beauty and identity in her young-adult memoir about resilience, sisterhood, and the strength it takes to put your life, and yourself, back together time and time again"--Publisher.

"The . . . memoir of Sarah Ramey's years-long battle with a mysterious illness that doctors thought was all in her head--but wasn't. A revelation and an inspiration for millions of women whose legitimate health complaints are ignored . . . recounts the decade-long saga of how a seemingly minor illness in her senior year of college turned into a prolonged and elusive condition that destroyed her health but that doctors couldn't diagnose or treat. Worse, as they failed to cure her, they hinted that her problems were all in her head . . . a memoir with a mission: to help the millions of (mostly) women who suffer from unnamed or misunderstood conditions: autoimmune illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, chronic pain, and many more. Sarah's pursuit of a diagnosis and cure for her own mysterious illness becomes a page-turning medical mystery that reveals a newly emerging understanding of modern illnesses as ecological in nature"--Provided by publisher.

"A teenager's memoir of the experiences of bullying, being HIV positive and surviving the experiences to become a force for positive change in this world"--Provided by publisher.

Depicts the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Southern black woman, whose cells were taken from her body without her permission during the 1950s for medical research and continue to be alive and used more than sixty years after her death. Discusses the issues of owning our own bodies and why Henrietta's family was never informed about her "immortality" for more than twenty years after she died. Includes chapter notes, photographs, and an index.

"Quentin Vennie shouldn't be alive. He has walked a path that many don't live long enough to write about. Growing up in Baltimore, he was surrounded by nothing but dead ends. Statistics mapped out his future, and he grew hostile toward a world that viewed him with suspicion and disdain. He's been shot at, sold drugs up and down the East Coast, lingered on the brink of incarceration, and stared down death more than once. Haunted by feelings of abandonment and resentment, he struggled with chronic anxiety and depression and battled a crippling prescription drug addiction. The day he contemplated taking his life was the day he rediscovered his purpose for living. Vennie's survival depended upon his finding a new path, but he didn't know where to turn. His doctor was concerned only with prescribing more medication. Vennie refused, and in a desperate attempt to save his own life, decided to pursue a journey of natural healing. After researching a few self-healing methods, he immediately bought a juicer from an all-night grocery store. He started juicing in the hopes that it would help him repair his body and clear his mind. He jumped headfirst into the world of wellness and started incorporating yoga and meditation into his life. This 'wellness trinity' helped him cut back on and then quit the many medications he was on, overcome his addictions, and ultimately, transform his life while inspiring others to find their own unique path to wellness. Strong in the Broken Places is the harrowing story of Vennie's life, the detours that almost ended it, and the inspiring turns that saved it. The odds were stacked against him, but he was able to defy expectations and claw his way out on his own terms"--Provided by publisher.

"Before he was Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci was a curious boy in Brooklyn, delivering prescriptions from his father's pharmacy on his blue Schwinn bicycle. His father and immigrant grandfather taught Anthony to ask questions, consider all the data, and never give up-and Anthony's ability to stay curious and to communicate with people would serve him his entire life. This engaging narrative, which draws from interviews the author did with Dr. Fauci himself, follows Anthony from his Brooklyn beginnings through medical school and his challenging role working with seven US presidents to tackle some of the biggest public health challenges of the past fifty years, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive backmatter rounds out Dr. Fauci's story with a timeline, recommended reading, a full spread of facts about vaccines and how they work, and Dr. Fauci's own tips for future scientists"--.