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Title: Bright Clouds |
| Author: Pat Dwyer |
Description: Subtitle: Smiling in the face of adversity and coping with multiple sclerosis
Systematic account from highly positive thinker Dwyer who describes MS from which he suffers, alongside six thousand other Irish people.
He explains diagnosis, possible causes, symptoms, prognosis, types, treatment, alternative medicine and supplements, supports, organisations, assistance and entitlements. He also discusses his own life, thoughts and attitudes with a chapter on poetry giving some of his own and some by Pablo Neruda whom he translates with a sample poem.
Useful websites listed.
From the Author
In Ireland there appears to be a general dearth of literature written by disabled people, especially with diseases like Multiple Sclerosis. This is an account of my personal experience with multiple sclerosis, covering a comprehensive explanation of the disease itself. It is a book written from the experience and perspective of a sufferer who has faced this disease as realistically as I can. I have endeavoured to write it with a sense of humour without trivialising the disease. It is a cold look at the disease but is not defeatist or depressive. This book is a story about an MS sufferer trying to cope with a baffling disease and written by the same and all my efforts to get treatment in far away places like Cuba because there was nothing available here in Ireland.
There are eight chapters (two parts: Part 1 dealing with the disease and Part 2 that deals with me) in total in the book namely Diagnosis, Prognosis, Attitudes to MS, Support Groups, Alternative Medicines (this is up to date and covers the pros and cons of the same), Faith in the scheme of MS, Cuba and its Health system (where I give a personal account of my experience in Oct/Nov 2001 and includes Hurricane Michelle! The worst hurricane in 40 years in Cuba!) and Poetry (covering my own poetry on MS), all are fairly self explanatory.
I have attempted to explain in as understandable a way as possible, the various possible causes of the disease, the vast number of problems/symptoms that can develop in your body when you have it, and what to consider in deciding how to combat, treat and live with multiple sclerosis in some small way both mentally and physically. I have spent 13 months researching and writing this book, which has been therapeutic in a way!
About the Author
Pat Dwyer born in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Living in Portlaoise since 1988 and spent 2 years in Ballyfin College, completing his Leaving Certificate there in 1979. At this stage of his life he considers himself an honorary Laois man! Opened Bealtaine Festival (The Bealtaine Laois Festival of Literature celebrates writing, storytelling, music and live performance in County Laois) with Tom Nestor in May 2002 launching his first book of poetry-From Thurles to Cuba with Love at the same event. Married to Joan, they have three children. Writes poetry in both English and Spanish. Prizewinner in the Spanish Section of the Dun Laoighaire/Rathdown International Poetry Competition 1998. Other publications include a poem in From Here to the Horizon, Laois Anthology 1999. The poem Un Cuba Libre was originally written in Spanish and later anglicised. This book Bright Clouds is his first venture into non-fiction and was written because he is personally affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
Reviews
Dwyer articulates well the extensive knowledge he has acquired of the myths surrounding the disease and its supposed treatments. He succeeds admirably in the difficult task of weaving his own experiences of the severest form of MS, with effectively analysed research into its many dimensions. Stephen Douglas, MS News
224pp 210x146
Subtopic: Complaints & Symptoms |
| Year: 2004 |
| Code: 2993 |
| Price: €10.00 |
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