Wednesday, November 14, 2012

If Books Were Medicine, I Would Live Forever


If you have read my blog for a while, you know that I have a Mitochondrial Disorder, (a form of muscular dystrophy) and it has impacted my health my whole life.  Over the last 2 months, my medical condition has rapidly deteriorated.  I have feel awful; I’m in pain constantly, I have mostly lost the ability to walk and the energy I had.  Things have gotten pretty icky.  I have a whole team of doctors and they are trying lots of things to help, but there is no treatment or cure for Mito, and the things they are trying to keep me out of pain aren’t working perfectly.  In short, I am really sick. 

If you have read my blog, you know I LOVE books and I LOVE authors.  I have even gotten to meet some on an amazing trip to ALA in 2010.  I am still 12, so I don’t have Facebook, but my mom has friended some authors on Facebook for me so that I can see when they are publishing something new.  That is where my current medical disaster turned into something amazing.  An author I adore, Kathi Appelt, saw one of my mom’s posts about how I was doing and wrote her a note to ask about me.  My mom updated her.  Kathi, being the amazing person she is, asked if it might cheer me up to get some signed books from authors.   My mom, knowing how much I adore authors, said yes.  She didn’t tell me.

She should have warned the mailman, because I have been getting TONS of packages of books.  And I mean TONS (totally amazing!)!  The other amazing part is how much they are helping; I have had to have some totally awful medical procedures done, and my mom reads aloud to me to distract me (it works, try it).  And I am reading to relax and enjoy.  Really, books are medicine!  And the amazing excitement of signed books from so many amazing authors is the best pain medicine yet.  I was in the hospital last week and the books came with me. They cheered me up and brightened the uniform hospital room.

What I really want to say is thank you. Thank you to all of the authors who sent me books. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Thank you especially to the wonderful author who orchestrated this. Thank you Kathi! Thank you to everyone who has been so nice to me these past couple of months.

9 comments:

  1. I <3 U to the moon and back a billion, trillion times the national debt. Hug by cyberspace to my favorite (only) granddaughter. Grandma Hardin

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  2. Oh, Laura, it makes me sad to know you've been in lots of pain and happy to know that so many authors and so many books are helping to make it easier for you. I wish I was an author with a book to send, too. Since I'm not, I send my wishes that the books keep working their magic, cheering you up, and giving you worlds to explore.

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  3. Hi Laura! It's your first grade teacher Miss Bredenkamp (now Mrs. Lamaster). I just read your blog...what an inspiration you are to so many people! I'm so proud of all that you have accomplished since 1st grade! You've been busy! I always knew you had great things in store for you :)

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  4. Heal quickly, Sweetie. We're all thinking of you and sending healing thoughts. XO

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  5. Hang in there Laura! Big hugs and prayers!

    Hope to see you pop in at the library soon. I am a grandma now... I have pictures to show you :)

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  6. Hey Laura! I'm Sam Bloom's mom and he got me started reading your stuff. How wonderful that you have so people who love and admire you...and they are authors! People you love and admire back!

    I don't write books but I admire you too and hope this yucky medical period comes to an end and soon.

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  7. Dear Laura,
    I am a long-time reader of your blog and love reading your reviews.

    Wishing you a quick recovery. Hang in there brave girl.

    Hugs and good wishes from India.

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  8. Laura, I'm sorry to hear that you have been sick, I hope you're on the mend, and feeling much better. I enjoy reading your reviews when you post them. Your infectious enthusiasm for books is wonderful, and inspiring.

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  9. I've missed seeing you around. I am glad that you had read the Newbery winner!! Very cool. And I love Ivan (the doll- I'll have to read the book). I hope things are improving. You blog is an inspiration! :)

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