My Extraordinary Demolition: Faith and Hope When Survival Seems Unlikely

ISBN-13: 9781503214422 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 130 str.

Ted Avelallemant

Opis

"We have all heard the expression "life can change in an instant." How true this became for me. By my age of 45, I had certainly run the full gamut of colds, flus, aches, pains, and viruses. I was quick to attribute three weeks of a low-grade fever and chills to some aggressive cootie slimed on a shopping cart handle by a snot-nosed ragamuffin. In retrospect, I should have recognized that this one was different. The typical flu-like symptoms were accompanied by an odd and scary shortness of breath. A week later was my next scheduled medical appointment. During that visit, I asked the doctor to study my blood counts closely. I returned home, lay down on the couch and slipped off to sleep. The phone rang. It was my doctor. He told me he knew why I felt sick, my white cell count well off the charts. Viewed under a microscope, my blood cells appeared grossly abnormal. None of this meant anything to me. I expected some rigorous course of antibiotics would be prescribed. Instead he said, "Ted, I am quite sure you have leukemia." Boom. Hearing those words sent my heart into my stomach, that sick, sweaty, adrenalin release, my mind racing out of control. How bad is this? Can this be treated? My own "life can change in an instant" moment had struck. At 4 p.m., May 9th, 2005, the life I knew had ended. And so began my "Tedstrong" adventure." My Extraordinary Demolition chronicles the author's life as he fights for survival. The 123-page memoir is a powerful roller-coaster of deep emotion and humor. The book is not merely a "cookbook" for surviving leukemia, but rather an inspirational message applicable to virtually any struggle in life. A reader writes, "I didn't like that the book had to end. I will miss that guy, Ted, that in a few short chapters became a very good friend, a confidant, a hero, and a soul-mate. People need to know what something like this feels like. There is strength. And love. And faith. And pain. And compassion. And wisdom." A professional editor writes "Your compelling story and able delivery (in your fantastic, conversational writing style) remain riveting throughout." Readers thus far offer this warning. "Don't start the book too late in the evening because you will be unable to put it down."