MS: Busting the Myths
There are many books available to support you with your life with MS.
‘I Can, Until I Can’t: Managing Multiple Sclerosis My Way’ by Fran Watts
This non-fiction work chronicles the life of Fran Watts, and how she grew up in England, emigrated to New Zealand, and lives with and manages a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
“Fran’s story deserves to be told. It shows that MS need not be the end of the world but can be a challenge to meet head-on with as much guts and determination as possible.” ~ Neil Woodhams, President, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Auckland and North Shore Inc.
Format: Paperback
Price: $30.00
‘Words Amongst Friends’ by Ian Watson
This volume of poems is the work of many years, accompanied by colour and black and white photographs by the poet’s friends, specially commissioned to illustrate each poem. Iain Watson was diagnosed with slow progressive Multiple Sclerosis around 30 years ago and is now confined to a wheelchair. The intention of this volume is to give voice to his life’s journey and to support others with the disease.
Format: Paperback
Price: $30
Contact Wardini Books for a copy
‘To the Summit: Getting out of a wheelchair and to the Himalayas’ by Nick Allen
To the Summit is the inspirational story of Nick Allen, a young New Zealander, who went from outdoorsman to wheelchair-bound with multiple sclerosis, then back to the life in the mountains he loves through sheer determination and grit. This remarkable story follows Nick’s first faltering steps back into the outdoors and his most astounding adventure yet – tackling a Himalayan summit. The incredible photography in the book is all his own.
Published by Massey University Press and available for RRP $39.99.
‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Neurologist’ by Shona Daube
Two years ago Shona was diagnosed with MS. As a nurse, Shona was familiar with and feared the chronic, painful, and challenging aspects of MS. Shona discusses the background of her book, “To help face my fears, I viewed my new health challenges as funny stories. I turned these stories into amusing emails for my friends. I hoped the emails would help my friends understand what it’s like living with MS. I then thought it might be a good idea to gather these stories together in a book as a way of increasing understanding of MS as well as raising funds for the MS Wellington Society.”
Format: Paperback
Price: $20.00
‘In Search of Health: 21 Steps to Glowing Health’ by Susan Kitson
Waking up at 3am, paralysed down the right side of her body and unable to speak, Susan Kitson was rushed to hospital. Following a devastating diagnosis one week later, she embarked upon a journey to regain her health. Over the next five years she experimented with different approaches to nutrition and exercise, and trialled many foods and different ways of living.
Discarding what didn’t help and improving upon what did, the 21 Steps to Glowing Health were developed. These steps can be found between the covers of In Search of Health and are practical and achievable.
‘The Good Life: Four glorious seasons in my garden’ by Sarah O’Neill
Since her diagnosis, MSNZ’s Esme Tombleson Person with MS of the Year 2015, Sarah O’Neill and her family have moved from Auckland City to the country, to live a happier, healthier lifestyle. Due to fatigue and other problematic MS symptoms, returning to the workplace did not seem a viable option. Prompted by her lifestyle change, Sarah progressed into writing about her gardening and has now written two books: one documenting the journey from city slicker to country bumpkin, and the other to encourage families to get out into the garden and grow fresh food together. Sarah also writes for the New Zealand Herald in their Bite and Plus supplement, has a column on the Go Gardening website, and contributes to their paper magazine. In articles in the Natural Parent magazine and on Kiwifamilies.co.nz, Sarah encourages families to grow their own food. “THE GOOD LIFE is a funny and inspiring slice-of-life gardening book, looking at the ups and downs of gardening throughout the year. The book is full of practical gardening advice, as well as delicious recipes, interwoven with the story of Sarah’s transformation from city-slicker to country girl.”
‘Hematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment for MS’ by Ronald Matthews
Having been diagnosed with MS for 25 years Roland Matthews was no longer willing to watch his health and condition decline. In 2017 he privately funded aHSCT treatment in Russia. 5 years on from treatment Roland has written a first-hand account of his treatment, what he has learnt and what he wished he had known about managing his condition. Writing from a patient perspective with lived experience, Roland encourages others with MS to do their own research, be their own advocate, and invest in their own health.
You can access his book via Amazon to read on your PC with the Kindle App or purchase a paperback version:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1991184107/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Disclaimer: This book has been independently written and researched by Roland Matthews. It is from a patient’s point of view.
‘Don’t be scared, Just be prepared’ by Disabled Persons Assembly & National Emergency Management Agency.
Prepare your emergency plan so that if something does happen, you won’t have to be scared – you’ll be prepared!
‘Storms Ahead’ by Rick Dodson.
Rick Dodson was a two-times world champion sailor whose many victories led to his role as strategist on board Team New Zealand when it won the 1995 America’s Cup. But for the successful defence in 2000, Rick was sailing with a secret: a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), which would eventually debilitate him. Storms Ahead is the story of Rick’s two lives: as a top, able-bodied sailor and as a Paralympian.
‘The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine’ by Terry Wahls
Dr. Wahls was diagnosed with MS in 2000 and within 3 years was using a wheelchair. She began studying the latest research on autoimmune disease and brain biology, and decided to get her vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids from the food she ate rather than pills and supplements. Dr. Wahl’s adopted the nutrient-rich paleo diet, gradually refining and integrating it into a regimen of neuromuscular stimulation. First, she walked slowly, then steadily, and then she biked eighteen miles in a single day. In November 2011, Dr. Wahls shared her remarkable recovery in a TEDx talk that immediately went viral. Now, in The Wahls Protocol, she shares the details of the protocol that allowed her to reverse many of her symptoms, get back to her life, and embark on a new mission: to share the Wahls Protocol with others suffering from the ravages of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions.
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: The Evidence-based 7 Step Recovery Program
The new edition reviews the findings from clinical studies Professor Jelinek has led into lifestyles of several thousand people with MS around the world. It also includes a very thorough overview of the latest clinical literature, which increasingly supports the OMS Recovery Program.
There is also new information on genetic factors in MS, and lifestyle factors.
Free Book Offer
Thanks to generosity of a key supporter, OMS is able to provide free copies of Professor Jelinek’s book to people newly diagnosed with MS in New Zealand.
You can order online at www.gawler.org. The item is free but delivery is $35.
‘The Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Cookbook’ by Ingrid Adelsberger
Medical research increasingly shows that a diet very low in saturated fat can reduce the progression of MS and even reverse its course in some cases. The OMS Recovery Program was developed through an analysis of this research and promotes a plant-based plus fish diet.
While there are many health-focused cookbooks available, the OMS Community expressed a need for a single resource where they would have access to plenty of OMS-friendly recipes.
