Michelle Lebs has chronicled the story of her experience being the daughter of Tamra Devine, a mother who suffered with Multiple Scoliosis. The book is both touching and sad. Michelle is incredibly brave as she helps her mother wrestle with the disease that will slowly incapacitate her. Together they will try to understand and make sense of the turn theirs lives have taken when diagnosed with this debilitating illness.
In alternating chapters and also including the thoughts and feelings of her father, Chris and her brother, Alex the reader has an inside look at what happens to a family when one member is diagnosed with a life threatening disease. As Michelle points out the illness does not just affect the patient, it changes the lives of the entire family.
This book is written from the heart. Michelle does not sugar coat the day to day struggles her mother went through, or the harsh feelings Michelle was feeling while everything was happening. It also does not try to make it seem like everything works out in the end. The family members here are angry at the disease, they are angry at life throwing them this curve ball. They get angry at each other. The book shows all those raw exposed moments when life really hurts.
This book also shows how through it all they were there for each other. How though Michelle was furious that, her teenage years and young adult time, when she wanted a mother who would bake with her and go shopping with her was taken away, she was there for her mother. She took care of her mother and loved her mother. Her father had taken a vow to love and take of, til death do you part, and he was taking that very seriously. Her brother was there also helping to hold them all together as a family.
Personally knowing this family for many years, having been friends with Tammy and watched the children grow up makes this book even more incredible. The have been through the toughest of times and have stayed strong and resilient. I hope writing this memoir has helped them heal. Tammy will never be forgotten. Her memory will be for a blessing and her strength will help others in their personal struggles.
