Cut to 1971, when medical science was still unsure of its feet. The tremendous advancements, we take for granted today were unheard of. When the fields of Neurology and Nervous diseases were in their infancy. This book has been written at such a time. It deals with the then unheard of disease 'Myalgic Encephalomyelitis'. What is it?? Well, even today this is one of medical science' unsolved mysteries.
Please read the official text I pulled out from https://meao-cfs.on.ca/about_me/about_whatis.shtml (an official support group for ME patients, on the net)
'M.E./CFS is a complex physical illness. Onset may be gradual or sudden. Early diagnosis, PLENTY OF REST, NOT PUSHING ONESELF and supportive treatment can minimize the impact of the illness and increase the possibility of remission or recovery. Understanding the illness will help you, or those you know who are affected, to cope. The cause(s) of the illness remains unknown, but ongoing research is being done to find the cause(s) and to develop treatment(s). M.E./CFS exists worldwide and can affect any man, woman, or child. The duration and severity of the illness can vary with each person. Some individuals are bedridden or require a wheelchair, while others are able to continue school or work with careful monitoring of their rest and activity levels.All aspects of the individual's life are affected, which can contribute to a decreased quality of life.'
Seems so easy to read/write the above words. But imagine a person who is living this nightmare. Imagine the condition of their near and dear ones. Diana's Story deals with such an amazing household - The Longden Family. Made up of Deric Longden, Diana's husband and the author of this book and their two children, Sally and Nicholas.
The Plot:
The story, a simple one, told in the first person by Deric is a tug-at-the-heart recap of Diana's last few years. It recounts the terrible destruction that this disease caused to Diana as a person and how this in effect had its ripple effect on the entire Longden family and all their near and dear ones. Diana was unable to move w/o a wheelchair, and was in almost constant pain. Equally distressing, perhaps, was the fact that every doctor she saw was unable to diagnose what was wrong with her. I mean, if you think that this was a function of the early years in this field, take a look at this text I downloaded from the site mentioned above....
At this early point, many practicing clinicians remain unconvinced that CFS is a genuine illness, although it is slowly increasing in acceptance. The reluctance is due in part to the facts that (1) no specific cause has yet been found, (2) there is no observable marker that doctors can use to specifically identify the illness, and (3) most doctors are not yet familiar with the peer-reviewed research which does tend to legitimize this disease. Emerging illnesses such as CFS typically go through a period of many years before they are accepted by the medical community, and during that interim time patients who have these new, unproven illnesses are all too often dismissed as being ''psychiatric cases''. This has been the experience with CFS as well. This is the state in 2002... Give me a break...
This kind of response is what Diana would get when the doctors could see her hands fold over at the wrist until her knuckles would touch her wrist (near the pulse) and then continue to fold over her back...(Ya thats right). She would have 4 to 5 hot water baths every night, because only hot water would ease the pain and make it bearable and after every such attack, a little bit of life would be sucked out of her. Deric, devoting more and more time to looking after Diana, watched his business gradually fail, and had to neglect his developing career as a broadcaster. He became house husband, nurse and caretaker of the woman he loved.
Reasons to Read the book
If you think that this is a gloom-doom book, full of despair and bitterness, then you've got another thing coming. Guys, Diana has to be one of the bravest, most cheerful and genuine women I have ever read about. The way she faces her illness and turns every moment of despair into one of extraordinary courage has to be seen to be believed. Really not much I can say will ever convey the same mood as if you read the book. Instances of how she would dress in the skimpiest of nighties to feel more like a woman (to the great discomfiture of her doctors), and would race in the supermarket (with her husbands help of course) displays her sheer bull headedness. She refused to roll over and play dead and hated any kind of sympathy. Hats off...What a woman!!!!
Deric has this amazing ability to transform the bleakest moments into some rip-roaringly funny/sensitive ones with his warmth amd wit. He is a natural writer who starts the book by making women' lingerie (I'm not kidding) and ends it as a Radio broadcaster. He tells an extraordinarily funny account of a marriage based on love and on an exceptional sense of humour. The interplays between Diana and Deric warm the cockles of ones heart. It must be beautiful to have a marriage based on such a great understanding.
It teaches us to be sensitive to others needs. For example, there is a scene where Diana wants to enter a certain shop to buy something, but Deric would rather head for the neighbouring cafe (sound familiar.:-)) Since he is wheeling her around, he just heads for the cafe, and only realises his terrible brutishness when Diana stiffens in her wheelchair. Such a simple scene, but so effective friends, so effective. Think about it.. There are many more scenes like this..
Deric's eccentric seventy plus mom creates some hilarious scenes of her own. A kind, partly deaf woman who is everyone's image of how a grandmother would be, she brings to life some pretty deep lessons. Deric's account of how she alights from a car has to be read to be believed. She actually.....naw...I'll let you people read the book and enjoy it, like I did...:-)
Their children Sally and Nicholas, and their growing up, moves through the whole book. This is a wonderful account of how children sometimes mature amazingly quickly, when they need to. When Sally moves out of her house, all the resultant mayhem seemed very familiar... Especially how she would mooch stuff from her parents house whenever she was over..Regular little klepto..:-)
But the fundamental reason for reading this book is one and one only...
It ignites within the reader the unshakeable conviction, that our destiny is in our hands. That no matter what our present reality may be, we really have no reason to complain. There are people with much bigger problems than us, who carry on living. loving and laughing. Live life the way it was meant to be lived, with an open heart, open to the universal energy of love and happiness. Do not ever complain and waste your breath. Do something about it instead. Open your eyes and live and stop expecting some one else to come and help you.
And Finally
Wow...I think I got just a little carried away during this review, but it comes straight from the heart... Hope it touches a chord somewhere deep inside. Pick up this book: beg, borrow, steal, but read it... Its worth it. Especially when you read the end...If there is no lump in your throat, then I will be your personal assistant for a year....
(Youch, I can't believe I just said that. Ignore, Ignore please) :-)
Cheers
