BOOKS & VIDEOS - RESOURCES

100% OF THE PROCEEDS ARE USED TO HELP ALS PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

The following books and videos were selected based on recommendations from ALS patients, families and caregivers. By listing them here, we are not intending to endorse any particular publication. These are listed as a convenience to our visitors. Many of the books and videos are available for loan to ALS patients, friends, family members or caregivers.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the books for yourself or as a donation to our lending library, you may click on the link below them to view purchase information directly from Amazon.com. Most items are available at significant discounts off of list price. If you do purchase any of these items, ALS of Nevada will receive some of the money to fund our activities.

Biographical

	Charlie's Victory by Charlie & Lucy Wedemeyer. Charlie is an ALS patient who was diagnosed in 1978. This book is the whole story in Charlie and Lucy's words. It is a triumphant story of courage and love as seen in PBS's Emmy-winning documentary "One More Season" and television's "Quiet Victory". Hardback – List Price: $23.00. Available for purchase from the Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach (408) 399-4334. Website: http://www.cwfo.org
	Falcon's Cry by Major Michael Donelly, USAF, Retired. Michael Donnelly's diary entries offer a matter-of-fact account of his 44 combat missions during the Gulf War, but his descriptions of dealing with doctors after coming home are more frightening. Diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Donnelly is convinced what he has is "Gulf War syndrome"--brought on by exposure to low levels of nerve and poison gases during the war. Hardcover – 272 pages – List Price $28.95 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Morrie: In His Own Words by Morrie Schwartz. Preceding the phenomenal success of Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie Schwartz published this, his own book. Schwartz intended his words to be read by people dying of terminal illnesses. As in the case in Tuesdays with Morrie, this collection of plainspoken reflections transcends the "death and dying" category and is more aptly shelved in one's inspiration and spirituality collection. Paperback – 127 pages – List Price $9.95 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	My Luke and I by Eleanor Gehrig. "My Luke and I" is a moving story of an era and a love that can never be forgotten-by the widow of one of baseball's greatest heroes. Hardcover or Paperback (out of print – possibly available used). Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	On Any Given Day by Joe Martin. Martin, who has ALS, tells a story that begins with his diagnosis in 1994 and ends with him unable to talk or walk but fighting to live his life to the greatest extent possible. In between, he continued to build his career as an executive at one of the nation's biggest banks and helped found the clinic that's now the MDA/ALS Center at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. The book features a fun-to-read, light tone and delightful humor. Hardcover – 160 pages – List Price $21.95 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Pride of the Yankees (1943). This classic movie stars Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig, the New York Yankee legend whose career was cut short by disease. This is the touching story of Gehrig's love of baseball from childhood, his friendship with Babe Ruth (who plays himself in the film), his marriage, career triumphs, and eventual resignation from the game. VHS Video (out of print – possibly available used). Click here to purchase this video from Amazon.com
	Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom. This is a true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil. We meet Morrie Schwartz and are privy to intimate moments of his final days as he lies dying from ALS. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Hardcover –192 pages – List Price $21.0. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Tuesdays With Morrie (1999). This warmhearted TV offering based on Mitch Albom's nonfiction bestseller of the same name dives right into the action, with Morrie (Jack Lemmon) collapsing within the first three minutes. Then it's cut to Mitch's hectic life as a sports columnist cum television host and long-term, often long-distance boyfriend. But this Mick Jackson-directed film slows considerably after the introductions as former student Mitch (Hank Azaria) learns his beloved professor is dying of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). VHS Video – List Price $14.99. Click here to purchase this video from Amazon.com

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Breathing and Ventilation

Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation by John R. Bach. Presents the use of noninvasive ventilatory techniques to eliminate respiratory mortality, and avoid the need to resort to tracheostomy in patients with lung or neuromuscular disease. Covers various noninvasive inspiratory and expiratory muscle aids and their outcomes. Paperback – 348 pages - List Price $75.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Caregiving

	Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal  by Beth Witrogen McLeod. A rare blend of powerful storytelling and practical information, this book presents advice from leaders in the fields of aging, medicine, finance, and spirituality and explores medical and financial problems as well as such issues as depression, stress, housing, home care, and end-of-life concerns. McLeod also draws on the wisdom of Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and shamanism, and on the writings of current and past spiritual figures. Paperback - 272 pages – List Price: $10.47. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Caregivers and Personal Assistants: How to Find, Hire and Manage the People Who Help You (Or Your Loved One!) by Alfred H. DeGraff. This book covers in thorough detail every imaginable aspect of working with caregivers and personal assistants. DeGraff, who uses a motorized wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, draws extensively from his own experiences. The impressive amount of information is carefully organized and indexed to be of help in almost every situation. Paperback - 505 pages – List Price: $19.96 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Caregiver's Handbook by Deni Bown. This handbook was written by experienced caregivers for those who are caring for the seriously ill. Provide practical tips on patient eating habits, moving the incapacitated, maintaining personal hygiene, adapting the home, dealing with legal and financial matters, and communicating with the patient. Other sections address the emotional needs of both patient and caregiver and provide sources of further information. Paperback. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	On Eagle's Wings by Connie C. Bobo. A practical guide for the care of terminally ill loved ones, this book provides step-by-step guidelines. Excerpts from the personal journals of Perry, an ALS victim, and his wife and caregiver give a candid portrayal of the fear, anger, pain, frustration and guilt that accompany the battle against a terminal illness. From their personal experiences, the reader can learn practical and economical tips on caregiving. Paperback - 133 pages – List Price: $19.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Share the Care: How to Organize a Group to Care for Someone Who Is Seriously Ill by Cappy Capossela. Drawing on the authors' personal experience in forming a caregiving network, this is a step-by-step guide to the group approach. Offers valuable guidelines, compassionate suggestions, and a workbook that offers support to help free the patient from worry and the caregiver from burnout. Paperback – List Price $14.00. Available for loan from the OHSU ALS Center (503-494-5236). Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	The Complete Bedside Companion: A No-Nonsense Guide to Caring for the Seriously Ill by Rodger McFarlane. Nursing a parent, spouse, relative, or friend through the painful progress of a terminal disease is not a road best traveled alone. This book offers warmth, encouragement, and the medical, legal, financial, and emotional advice you need when caring for an ailing loved one. Paperback – 544 pages - List Price $25.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	The Fearless Caregiver: How to Get the Best Care for Your Loved One and Still Have a Life of Your Own, by Gary Barg. Supportive and often laced with humor, the book is a collection of articles by Barg, who founded Today's Caregiver magazine, and more than 30 other experts. The book is heavily slanted toward Alzheimer's disease, however, its encouraging tone, humor, practical advice and unblinking approach to the realities of caregiving make up for this deficit. Paperback - 264 pages - List Price: $21.95 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Children/Teens

	A Child's View of Grief by Alan D. Wolfelt. This concise resource for parents of grieving kids explores several key principles for helping children cope with grief. It answers common questions such as “What should I say to children when someone they love dies?” and “Should young children attend funerals?” This guide also identifies and explains typical behaviors, thoughts, and feelings of grieving kids and offers adults tips for responding to them. Paperback - 5 pages - List Price: $5.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley. Written for children ages 4 to 8. All the woodland creatures love old Badger, and when he dies, they are overwhelmed by their loss. Then, they begin to remember, and through their memories, the animals find the strength to face the future with hope. Hardcover - 25 pages - List Price: $15.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals by Earl A. Grollman (Editor). A fairly comprehensive guide to helping children and adolescents cope with the emotional, religious, social, and physical aspects of a loved one's death. Topics range from how adolescents grieve differently from adults to concrete ways to help children cope. Paperback - 256 pages - List Price: $16.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz. 18 children from age 7 to 17, speak openly of their experiences and feelings. This book helps children cope with this most painful of losses. It heals young people with its reality, with the variety of experiences and feelings presented, with its loving approach to the feelings they have felt but feared no one else had ever felt. Paperback - 128 pages - List Price: $15.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers: How to Cope With Losing Someone You Love by Earl A. Grollman. In a unique prose-poem format utilizing aphorisms and quotation fragments, Grollman speaks directly and effectively to the hearts and minds of teenagers who are coping with the death of a friend or family member. Sage advice and worldly wisdom from an author who understands both teenagers and grief. Paperback - 146 pages – List Price: $11.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? by Trevor Romain. Written for children ages 9 to 12. This book is for any child who has lost a loved one. The author talks directly to kids about what death means and how to cope. He answers questions kids have about death--Why? How? What next? Is it my fault? What's a funeral?--in basic straightforward terms. Paperback - 72 pages – List Price: $7.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown. Written for children ages 4 to 8. Unlike many children’s books on death, this one doesn't tell a story. Instead, it addresses children's fears and curiosity head-on, in a largely secular fashion, by answering some very basic questions: "Why does someone die?" "What does dead mean?" "What comes after death?". Hardcover - 32 pages – List Price: $14.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Communication/Swallowing/Eating

Communication and Swallowing Solutions for the ALS Community by Marta S. Kazandjian (Editor) of Communication Independence for the Neurologically Impaired, Inc. (CINI). The manual provides information on selecting an appropriate communication system, details the stages of swallowing and assists in identifying symptoms that may interfere with safe swallowing and nutrition. Paperback - 100 pages - List Price: $11.50. Available for purchase from CINI. (212) 385-8045 Website: http://www.cini.org

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Coping/Inspirational/Religious

	I Will Live Today: Affirmations for Strength and Healing While Coping With Serious Illness (Words to Live By) by Judith Garrett Garrison. (out of print – possibly available used). Available for loan from the OHSU ALS Center (503-494-5236). Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss. Dr. Weiss, who was once firmly entrenched in a clinical approach to psychiatry, finds himself reluctantly drawn into past-life therapy when a hypnotized client reveals details of her previous lives. Much of the information is comparable to most religious doctrine, - do not kill, love your fellow man, vengeance shall be mine - etc. This book provides a refreshing perspective on the notion that life is everlasting. Paperback - 219 pages - List Price: $12.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner. Rarely does a book come along that tackles a perennially difficult human issue with such clarity and intelligence. Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi facing his own child's fatal illness, deftly guides us through the inadequacies of the traditional answers to the problem of evil, then provides a uniquely practical and compassionate answer that has appealed to millions of readers across all religious creeds. Hardcover - 202 pages - List Price: $21.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	When God Doesn't Make Sense by James C. Dobson. This book deals unflinchingly with life's most troubling question: "Why?" Dr. James Dobson brings hope to those who have almost given up, helping readers avoid the sense that God is abandoning them amidst the storms of life. Dobson offers assurance of God's constant care, even when circumstances are beyond our comprehension. Paperback - 250 pages - List Price: $6.99. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty by Joni Eareckson Tada. Who is God? Can he really be trusted? What are his purposes in the face of suffering? If he can stop suffering, why doesn't he? This book is not so much about suffering as it is about God. It tackles tough questions about heaven and hell, horrors and hardships, and why God allows suffering in this life. Paperback - 255 pages - List Price: $12.99. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Death, Dying and Grief

	The Courage to Grieve by Judy Tatelbaum. This book is a bright candle along a dark, mysterious path on which none of us are equipped to travel: coping with the loss of a loved one. But it contains far more than many reasonable and logical suggestions for handling, with courage, our aching grief over the passing of another. This excellent and sensitive book also sheds considerable light on how each of us can learn to live, unafraid, among the always present reminders of our own unavoidable encounter with the shafts of death." Paperback - 177 pages - List Price: $13.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Death: The Final Stage of Growth by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (Editor). Drawing on our own and other cultures' views of death and dying, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross provides some illuminating answers and offers a spectrum of viewpoints, including those of ministers, rabbis, doctors, nurses, and sociologists, and the personal accounts of those near death and of their survivors. Paperback - 208 pages – List Price: $11.00. Available for loan from the OHSU ALS Center (503-494-5236). Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Peaceful Dying: The Step-By-Step Guide to Preserving Your Dignity, Your Choice, and Your Inner Peace at the End of Life by Daniel R. Tobin, M.D. Tobin delineates six stages of dying: "shock, grasping, grief, letting go, healing, and serenity." He then breaks down those stages to show readers 26 steps they can take to make the process of dying easier, including taking control of choices, facing fears, communicating with doctors and loved ones and planning a funeral. Paperback - 208 pages – List Price: $14.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Seven Choices: Taking the Steps to New Life After Losing Someone You Love by Elizabeth Harper Neeld. Contains personal narratives, medical and scientific research, and suggestions and advice on the subject of change, loss, and grief. Seven Choices offers hope, comfort, and advice that culminates in a discussion of the possibility of engaging with change and loss in such a way that the experience becomes life-transforming. One can find release from the past, discover a stronger and balanced self, and experience a renewed zest for life. Paperback - 345 pages – List Price: $14.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	When Men Grieve: Why Men Grieve Differently and How You Can Help by Elizabeth Levang. Psychologist Elizabeth Levang explains the special ways that men grieve so those who love them can better understand what they're going through. Insightful text on the unique character of men's grief and how they face loss. Includes strategies for partners, friends, and relatives. Paperback - 224 pages - List Price: $14.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Legal/Financial

Be Prepared: The Complete Financial, Legal, and Practical Guide for Living With a Life-Challenging Condition by David S. Landay. Be Prepared is a comprehensive and accessible guidebook to help people with a life-challenging condition, as well as their family and friends, cope with the financial, legal, and practical issues of illness, disability, and death. Paperback - 450 pages – List Price: $17.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

Fight Back and Win: How to Get HMO's and Health Insurance to Pay Up by William M. Shernoff. A practical how-to for all those Americans who worry that their heath care coverage won't be there when they need it. William Shernoff is the senior partner in the law firm of Shernoff, Bidart, Darras & Arkin in Claremont, California. His law firm has helped thousands of policyholders win substantial settlements from over 150 insurance companies and HMOs. Paperback - 156 pages – List Price: $9.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Lou Gehrig

Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig in His Time by Ray Robinson. A captivating biography of the legendary ball player Lou Gerhig, known for both his prowess on the field and his courage in life. Robinson re-creates the life of this legendary baseball player and also provides a insightful look at baseball through the depression years. Includes over 50 photographs. Paperback - 304 pages – List Price: $13.50 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man by David A. Adler. (Reading level: Ages 4-8) This biography tells Gehrig's story with unassuming simplicity and purposely remains vague about the details of Gehrig's illness. The story is no less affecting without them, and probably contains enough sadness for any child. Paperback - 32 pages – List Price: $6.00 Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com

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Treatment

	Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients and Families, 2nd Edition by Hiroshi Mitsumoto (Editor). Discusses diagnosis; patient care; therapeutic trials; unorthodox treatments; speech problems; physical therapy; nutrition; environmental adaptations; ventilatory care; long-term care; financial resources; the role of support groups; hospice care, life support systems and the legal, ethical, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dealing with the disease. Paperback – 400 pages - List Price: $39.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Working With Your Doctor: Getting the Healthcare You Deserve by Nancy Keene. Getting the best healthcare today requires that you participate in the process. This book will help you to be your own advocate, to get the very best in healthcare, and to have the best possible relationship with your doctors. It will show you how to become an assertive, but understanding, medical care consumer. Paperback –380 pages - List Price: $15.95. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Guide to the Evaluation and Management of Neuromuscular Disease by John R. Bach. This book was written for both health care professionals and patients and their care providers. It provides a clear understanding of the management principles for people with neuromuscular conditions with topics including assistive equipment, rehabilitation, nutrition, and prevention of orthopedic and heart complications as well as respiratory evaluation and management. Paperback - 165 pages - List Price: $32.00. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
	Palliative Care in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Motor Neuron Disease) by David Oliver (Editor). Provides a reference for the care of patients with ALS. The palliative care approach to the care of ALS is outlined and the role of the multidisciplinary team is emphasized. All contributors are clinicians and provide guidelines throughout the disease process. Hardcover - 202 pages - List Price: $79.50. Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com