This latest addition to the Healing Project’s worthy “Voices of” series (see also the entries on Alzheimer’s, autism, and caregiving) collects the stories of 34 individuals with bipolar disease and their loved ones. Divided into five categories—“How It Feels,” “Diagnosis,” “Bipolar Is in Our Blood,” “The Caregivers,” and “I’ve Learned To Manage It”—the essays vary in length. Some have happy endings, as in the case of a married couple who stayed together with a sense of humor; others do not. All are real and will strike a chord with the intended audience, who continue to suffer under the weight of a heavy stigma. VERDICT: An essential purchase for those suffering from the illness, as well as for family, friends, and other caregivers; all proceeds go to the Healing Project, a recognized tax-exempt organization. 
– Library Journal

After facing breast cancer, Debra LaChance founded The Healing Project and initiated her seven-part Voices Of series (Voices of Breast Cancer, Voices of Alzheimer’s, etc.) to fulfill the need—her own included—for “personal stories of those who had gone through this ordeal. Addressing all aspects of life with disease—diagnosis, diet, exercise, laughter, stigma, support, family and friends, acceptance, treatment, and the promise of new and better treatment—this is an honest collection that will provide great context and practical advice for patients and their loved ones.– Publisher’s Weekly

The subtitle, Lives Transformed by Man's Best Friend, aptly summarizes the theme of this touching book. Another in the series of "Healing Project" books, this collection of 29 stories will bring both tears and smiles. In small ways and large, dogs are the catalyst for much joy and comfort, as this book makes plain.– The Bark Magazine

Good Dogs Doing Good: Lives Transformed by Man’s Best Friend will make you glad you have a dog, or wish you did if one is not part of your household…more than a few will have you shedding a tear. This is a nice collection of stories - with cute photos of the dogs in the essays - that proves dogs really are man’s (and woman’s) best friend.– Chicago Sun-Times

Overwhelmed family caregivers will find Gibbons's book immensely and immediately useful. Even though Gibbons's family had the financial resources to weather the nine years her mother, Jean, lived with Alzheimer's, the feelings of pain and helplessness were unavoidable. Gibbons and her father, siblings and children share what they learned in dealing with Jean's decline and eventual placement in the dementia unit of a nursing home. While memory loss is the focus of the book's first section, the rest offers excellent advice for family caregivers on how to take care of themselves both physically and emotionally, from exercises to keep one strong enough to aid the patient to dealing with guilt and denial around a loved one's memory loss.  – Publishers Weekly

Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders are one of the leading causes of death for people over 65. Although families and spouses provide most of the care, few seek outside support or information about memory loss, writes Gibbons, best known as a co-host of Entertainment Tonight. Along with coauthors James Huysman, a social worker and psychologist, and Rosemary Laird, a physician, she offers a wealth of practical, solid, jargon-free information on essential topics like causes and treatments and the spiritual side of caregiving. The authors underscore the importance of "caring for the caregiver," suggesting ways families can maintain their own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being so they can continue to provide care at home and avoid costly nursing home placement for as long as possible.

Verdict: Gibbons serves up readable information not readily available in similar guides, enriched by her caregiving anecdotes and extensive resources section. Add this to your core caregiving collection, librarians. – Library Journal starred review

This collection of essays contains inspiring true stories by those affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Beginning with a medical overview, the book features short essays from patients and patients' loved ones. ...A wife writes about her husband's diagnosis of MS two months after the birth of their daughter, describing how their love helps get them through the bad days. A patient who lost most of her vision to MS explains how the disease has inspired her to become content with her life. The book concludes with a helpful list of MS organizations and resources. VERDICT: Those diagnosed with MS or have a loved one with MS will find support in this collection of stories which provides a nice supplement to medical information about the disease as patients can read about others dealing with how MS has impacted their lives. – Library Journal on Voices of Multiple Sclerosis

This compilation of caregivers' personal stories should prove inspiring, supportive, and informative to those responsible for family members or others unable to care for themselves owing to disability or disease. Similar to Nell Casey's An Uncertain Inheritance: Writers on Caring for Family, this book is nevertheless unique because it is not a guide and is not limited to a specific disease, condition, or demographic. Divided into four parts arranged by attributes like commitment, patience, humor, etc., the book also incorporates an informative essay, "Palliative Care and Hospice." The contributors present disparate aspects of the caregiving experience that range from anger to transcendence. Readers will glean valuable information from each vignette, including pertinent web sites. A resources section feature annotated contact information for associations, groups, and organizations supporting caregivers. Suitable for public or health-oriented libraries, especially where other books in the "Voices of" series are popular. – Library Journal on Voices of Caregiving

Those who work in the healthcare field and families who are dealing with life-threatening or chronic illnesses will find encouragement in the words of others going through similar life-altering situations.
 – ForeWord Magazine on Voices of Caregiving

This is a rich collection of essays not only by those who have been diagnosed with conditions along the autism spectrum, but also by their parents, siblings, teachers, caregivers, and doctors as well. In "An Aspie’s Guide to Everyone Else," a teen who has Asperger’s syndrome attempts to explain the differences between him and those he calls "neurotypicals" or "NTs." Another boy opens "The Price of Talk" with these words: "My name is Michael. I am 14, and I have autism. Some say that I am nonverbal, but I can communicate…. Not being able to talk is very frustrating. My mind knows what I want to say but my lips, tongue, and breath can’t make it happen." In "My Special Brothers," a 13-year-old girl writes, "I think it is the coolest thing to have brothers with autism. Anyone can learn a lot from them; I have." In "The Reward," a parent with autistic twins says, "…I learned that until you are confronted with severely life-changing situations, you can never know the extent of your capacity to love." For teens whose lives have been touched by this baffling condition, and even for those who just want to better understand it, this book is an invaluable resource. – School Library Journal on Voices of Autism

The fifth entry in the "Voices" anthology project from the Healing Project, this work includes over 40 different stories and vignettes written by parents, teachers, and people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) that showcase how families and caregivers measure perseverance, understanding, and success. Many of the selections stand out, including an author’s account of her autistic son, a seventh grader’s perspective on her two siblings with autism, a memoir by an adult with autism who relied on a tire advertisement to get through tough times, and an account of the challenges of dating an adult with Asperger’s. The book’s real strength are the adult-penned passages, which will give readers a better sense of what autism truly is. Taken individually, the stories show glimpses of the impact that autism has on individuals and those they love. Taken collectively, they paint a rich landscape that many will find familiar. Highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with disability collections. – Library Journal on Voices of Autism

If you are coping with a friend or family member who suffers from autism, or if you are interested in learning more about the disease, you need this book. It opens the door to a community of medical professionals, families and caregivers that is both touching and informative. The book also provides a resource section that will let you know you don't have to face the problem alone. – amazon.com 5-star customer review of Voices of Autism.

In 2005, cancer survivor Debra LaChance founded the Healing Project to create a community of support for those living with chronic and life-threatening illness. ... more than 40 people whose lives have been profoundly touched and irrevocably changed by Alzheimer’s disease ... including actress Kate Mulgrew... share their stories, providing readers with insights into living with the disease from its early, often unnoticed beginnings to its final, devastating stages and beyond. Contributors include victims, spouses, family members, friends, and caregivers who write with dignity, candor, and humor about their journeys and the sometimes positive and unexpected effects the experience can have. ... . This poignant, insightful, distinctive, and informative book is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries. – Library Journal starred review on Voices of Alzheimer’s

As with all books in the Healing Place series, Voices of Alzheimer's gift is its ability to distill the many facets of a disease into poignant and memorable short essays Readers hear from families who, while changed forever by Alzheimer’s, still felt that they did the best they could under the circumstances. Many writers describe the peace that they were able to achieve about their own family member's condition, even in the midst of heartbreak. It is particularly relevant that we hear repeatedly who each writer's special person IS: a beloved wife, a father who loved to garden, an immigrant from Yugoslavia, a grandpa who loved to give out dollar bills. Every individual with AD lived a life experience before it which is worth the time to know. With AD in particular it can be reassuring to family members that their loved one's life has significance, and what has made that person so special to them can never disappear.

The books that I have seen in this series do include brief discussions about medications and research, but the wide range of incredibly personal family stories take center stage. In the case of AD this means it may be appropriate for different caregivers at different times, depending on their loved one's AD stage and their own grief process. This book is highly recommended for anyone working in AD areas, including assisted living, residential care, clinical, and community day care settings. – amazon.com 5 – star customer review of Voices of Alzheimer’s.

I purchased this book for the three pages by Kate Mulgrew (a.k.a. Captain Janeway), but after I read her provocative pages I started the book from the beginning and just couldn't put it down. This book is packed with honest, jarring anecdotes that literally take your breath away.

This is a beautiful book, but it is absolutely heartbreaking. I'm not sure that it is the kind of book you would give to someone who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, although, on the other hand, perhaps it could spur that person to take care of living wills and other business while they are still able to make rational decisions.

Reading this book could have immeasurable value to caregivers, as they may feel less isolated and more connected, empowered. And I think it would be an excellent book for anyone who is trying to understand the impact of Alzheimer's on caregivers and families.

The book also works as an advocacy piece -- I can't imagine anyone reading this book without feeling motivated to DO something -- donate money, volunteer, sponsor a friend going on an Alzheimer's walk, work for a cure, etcetera.

I know it says something important and perhaps hopeful about the human spirit that ordinary people watch those they love be destroyed by this disease, that they care for them, suffer with them, perform profound acts of love and compassion, and eventually come out on the other side. But for now, Alzheimer's disease doesn't have happy endings. – amazon.com 5-star customer review of Voices of Alzheimer’s.

This is an EXCELLENT publication and I am so very happy for the publishers that they decided to go for such a worthwhile effort. Wonderful stories, etc - great source of information from the mouths of those most closely informed by this disease. I highly recommend this book, and the coming series, to anyone having a family member with one of these diseases, or caring in general about others and wanting to understand as much as possible. – amazon.com 5-star customer review of Voices of Alzheimer's.

This anthology is packed with real women's stories originally shared at the Healing Project, a nonprofit group founded by cancer survivor Debra LaChance that connects people with life-threatening illnesses. You’ll also find essays about new treatments—as well as where to go for support. – Shape Magazine on Voices of Breast Cancer.

This wide-ranging anthology from the Healing Project provides answers to practically anyone wondering "What now?" in the face of a breast cancer diagnosis. Patients, family and friends will find helpful information on everything from the emotional aspects of diagnosis and treatment to explanations of the different types of breast cancer. Boxes scattered throughout offer particularly good clinical information by Dr. Stephanie Bernik on everything from choosing a surgeon to the effect of chemotherapy on fertility. The breaking up of this information among personal essays, poems and meditations by patients and family members makes it easy to digest. While many writers tell of their shock and dismay at their diagnosis, there are more than a few wry laughs, too.... Debra LaChance created the Healing Project to provide a format for connecting people diagnosed with different diseases. Judged by that yardstick, this worthy collection succeeds very well. – Publisher's Weekly on Voices of Breast Cancer.

Hearing others' stories is the most substantial aspect of any support group, be it Weight Watchers or Alcoholics Anonymous. These breast cancer confidences present the disease from varied points of view, male and female, as those who struggled with it put it all on the line. No two tales are the same, just as no two breast cancer diagnoses or experiences are the same. It's the universality of the emotions that links these essays and puts the human face on what can be a very scary disease. For all patient health collections. – Library Journal on Voices of Breast Cancer.

The personal stories included in "Voices of Lung Cancer" are poignant and true. These stories put a different face on lung cancer, and, amazingly, they're filled with hope and humor. Stories like Susan Long's "Rediscovering Daddy" and Barbara Terrell's "Now I Understand" give the disease a face and help others who are dealing with similar situations. The fact that Law & Order’s S. Epatha Merkerson and Dr. Deborah Morosini, sister of Dana Reeve, have stories in the book only adds to its interest. I highly recommend it. Shane Alexander. – amazon.com 5-stars customer review of Voices of Lung Cancer.