When the Music Stopped

Rating:
Summary: Facing ALS With Faith and Courage
Review: "When the Music Stopped" is the touching story of the faith and courage of Patti, a beautiful and talented woman with ALS, (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and an "ordinary man's journey " of 3 ½ years as her caregiver. Mike Wright tells his story with compassion, startling honesty and humor. The reader shares the impact that this devastating terminal illness has on every aspect of life. The author's objective is "to encourage those who must walk a similar path.."

Unlike "Tuesdays With Morrie" this book deals with the 24/7 challenges that the caregiver faces as one muscle group after another fails. Wright gives many practical and creative ways he found to deal with the constantly changing needs that ALS presents. Anticipating Patti's needs was one of his greatest challenges. The author gives suggestions to caregivers such as: "picking your battles, pace yourself, sleep a moment at a time, cry if you need to, and share laughter."

Wright emphasized the importance of accepting help when you need it. He describes a group of 15 friends he called Patti's Angels who assumed the caregiver roll in the afternoons so he could work part time.

Admitting that the physical and emotional exhaustion was often overwhelming for both of them they found that a sense of humor was a key to survival. Wright describes his first awkward attempts at learning how to put on panty house and apply makeup. Helping Patti to try on clothes in a cramped ladies dressing room in the mall when she was unable to move her arms or stand without assistance provided laughs for months to come. Humor helped the couple deal with many difficult situations.

The Wright's college aged son and teenaged daughter each wrote a chapter describing how they coped with their mother's terminal illness. Their honesty mirrors that of their father.

The book describes the grief process following the death of Patti
and the difficult road to recovery ending with his remarriage four years later.
This book is not only an inspiring story of a courageous woman but it's a tribute to her caregiver who was anything but ordinary.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational, against all odds
Review: This is a MUST read, even for those of us who haven't had a loved one with ALS!! Mike Wright is an inspiration to us all and his stuggles are some we all can relate with. Thanks to him for getting more information out there for ALS families. May God bless him richly!

Rating:
Summary: When The Music Stopped
Review: When The Music Stopped was a heart-wrenching book, as the reader could feel the helplessness and hopelessness in each stage and step along the way of this disease. As a "veteran" caregiver myself, I could certainly empathize with Mr. Wright. When a loved one is terminally ill, many try to find the "magic bullet" to cure such disease. We all know there's usually no such thing as a magic bullet, but we can't help but grasp for any straw that might prolong our loved one's life even if only for a few days. A terminal illness is a roller coaster ride that takes one on such highs and lows and the end result is always the same.