Faces of Huntington's

by Carmen Leal and Carmen Leal-Pock

Book Overview

Faces of Huntington's is an incredible collection of stories, essays, poems, and quotes of those who are in some way connected to Huntington's Disease. The book focuses on over sixty people who have... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1894169107
• ISBN13: 9781894169103
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Essence Publishing
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Best I've Read

When we found out that my husband had Huntington's Disease, we felt completely alone. I learned all about the disease, but that didn't help. Then I read "Faces of Huntington's." All those personal stories helped me to realize that I was not alone, and that I could cope and perhaps even grow.This book is a great help for caregivers, but it should also be read by health care professionals. They usually don't have a clue about the dynamics of this disease. It would help them understand what it going on with these families.I highly recommend this book.

A Must Read Book!

This is a wonderful book of stories and poems by and about people with Huntington's Disease. It is divided into 9 sections: Faces of Encouragement, Faces of Love, Faces of Humor, Faces of Family, Faces of Heroes, Faces of Faith, Faces of Forgiveness, Faces of Hope and Faces of Huntington's Each of the sections contains an introduction by the author, whose husband has Huntington's Disease, and short essays and poems written by many other people who are affected by Huntington's Disease. In between the Faces chapters, are longer personal stories by people with Huntington's or who have a loved one with Huntington's. There is also an appendix with the following sections: Brain and Blood Donations, Resources on Huntington's Disease, Electronic Resources on Huntington's Disease, HDSA Chapters, Residential Care Facilities and International Huntington's Disease Associations This is a book which theoretically you can read a little bit when you have time, then let sit for awhile, then read a little bit more when you have more time. That is exactly how I planned to read it, but I found that I could not put it down. The stories and poems are so moving that I was compelled to read the whole thing straight through. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is affected by Huntington's Disease, or who wants to learn more about the personal aspects of HD.

Faces of Huntington's, Faces of Hope

At one time or another,most of us experience some degree of despair. Faces of Huntington's depicts people whose lives are thrown into the deepest, most devastating kind. Yet these people, in the midst of a horror that comparatively few ever experience, manage somehow to radiate hope. Carmen Leal-Pock's stories and those of the others' she's included in her book emanate nothing but faith in hard places, love in unlovable circumstances, and hope that gives hope to others who read the book in search of something to hold on to, a lifeline. Some books about devastating diseases leave readers just that-devastated. Others, including Leal-Pock's,offer positive help and encouragement. *Faces* lets victims with HD and other insidious neurological diseases know that yes, they're in a pit of seemingly never-ending hurt, but they're not alone, and there is hope. Life does go on, and where there is life, with the tragedy and heartbreak there is also love, joy, and again, hope. Leal-Pock's faith, her hope for a cure for HD, Alzheimer's et al., shines through the entire book. It's a must read for anyone desiring sound, encouraging, comforting reason while in a hard place.

A book loaded not only with faces, but lots of hearts.

Everything about Huntington's hurts. This book is full of hurts. Everyone with Huntington's, or associated with those who have it, has a face and a heart and a family and a future. This book is loaded with faces and hearts and families and futures. There are no hurts to equal those of this dreaded disease. Carmen tenderly takes the reader to the dreadful indelicacies of those hurts. But this book stands apart in its ability to make you laugh even as you cry, cringe in fear even as you shout in triumph, love the people even as you hate the disease. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions you will never forget, and after which you will never be the same.

Inspiring, real, and applicable to those with any challenge.

Faces of Huntington's is a wonderful book that brings the reader face to face with one of the most challenging prospects a person may encounter in life--dealing with a debilitating illness. Carmen Leal-Pock illuminates the pain, the struggle, and the heart aches that are inevitable with this disease from hell, but she also allows the reader to receive a taste from the cup of great hope, unselfish support, and loving spirit that the patients, those at risk, and caregivers must partake of on a daily basis in order to survive. As a pastor I found this book very helpful in sensitizing me to the special needs that others with great challenges have. No person, churched or unchurched, activily spiritual or otherwise, could read this book without being moved. Although the subject matter is intense, the blend of poetry and narrative keeps the flow lively and refreshing. Whether one is reading for inspiration, or hope, or comfort, or resource, the time spent with Faces of Huntington's will be fruitful.