Ruthie: A Family's Struggle with ALS / Lynn Miclea

Ruth grew up in the 1920s with two sisters in a loving home in New York. A peacekeeper by nature, she was a strong, independent, and passionate woman. Dedicated to making a difference in the world, she worked as an occupational therapist and devoted her working career to helping others. She married at the young age of nineteen and had two children in a loving and supportive family environment, with only the occasional volatile dynamics.

Everything was going well until amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) entered the family’s lives. ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, crept in silently.

A progressive and fatal motor neuron disease that causes muscle atrophy, ALS is a brutal, debilitating illness that is difficult to diagnose and has no known cure. This disease began stealing her strength, her independence, and her ability to function.

Filled with heartrending honesty, Ruthie: A Family’s Struggle with ALS documents one family’s dynamic struggle with the disease. From the initial confusing symptoms to the heartbreaking conclusion, Lynn Miclea’s touching words offer insight into this cruel illness and give advice on how to care for a loved one suffering from it.

Gripping and dramatic, yet ultimately inspirational, this book will both empower and encourage anyone dealing with a similar progressive, terminal illness.