I felt a remarkable connection to Jenni as she was also diagnosed younger than most, studied art therapy, visited Italy as a "must do before I die" reaction to her diagnosis, has more than surpassed her prognosis, shares my passion for sunflowers, attends ALS walks every year with her supporters, and is also a strong advocate for furthering ALS research.
This book resonates with my journey of trying to find the balance between "showing up vs. giving up", while allowing the occasional pity party. I felt not so alone in the difficulty of learning to ask for and accept help, as well as how it feels to lose control. Jenni shares practical tips and tricks in managing ALS as well as how to address the emotional, mental and physical aspects of living with illness. There are chapters written by family members and friends, offering a perspective for others to navigate their roles of a loved one's terminal illness. Travis appreciated the one written by her husband, accepting the reality of needing to look after oneself in order to care for your partner. He especially enjoyed when Jenni's husband stated "she can be a real s*** sometimes", a little too close to home!
Jenni shares her secrets to living life to the fullest in the face of life-altering events in her debut book. With humour and vulnerability, Jenni offers practical resources and advice on what ALS patients and their families can expect as they embark on their own ALS journeys. She also offers guidance for how she manages to live with continuous hope and positivity.
Jenni's journey as an ALS warrior provides the secrets to living a full life after a terminal prognosis, and she details the good, the bad, and the ugly of her ALS journey with charming wit and honesty. Jenni's book serves as a hopeful guide to all readers for how to move forward in the face of life-altering events.
This year, Jenni is releasing the audiobook version of her memoir, and her documentary, "Grateful: The Jenni Berebitsky Story", is being released and screened in film festivals across North America.