Category Archives: Book Fair

Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Habit Building, Holiday Celebrations, Recipes, Stress Reduction, Titles Worth Reading

DELICIOUS BEAN SALAD – YES, PLEASE!

Leave a comment

An old classic reimagined!

Somewhere on social media, Jackie Kennedy’s classic, “Four Ingredient Casserole,” came across my view.

You know – cooked egg noodles, butter, sour cream, and cottage cheese, plus a fifth ingredient of chopped chives – stir, put in casserole, sprinkle with salt/pepper and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve to family … or heads of State.

Well, just seeing that made me think about a favorite from my own past – the most excellent three bean salad!

Super easy to prepare from ingredients usually on hand, and a great side dish to a wide variety of foods.

Of course, I tweaked a thing or two – even back then – and added a couple ingredients that really put this old classic in another category – judging from the comments of the attendees at a recent Octoberfest in our neighborhood.

Back in the day, an old friend of mine suggested using French-cut green beans. It’s amazing how that one thing changes the presentation.

Then, the yellow wax beans add their own little something – I’ve never seen them used outside of a bean salad, have you?

The requisite red kidney beans are there along with the white cannellini beans, celery, and red onion.

For additional color, and to compliment the French style green beans, a grated carrot (using the large grater) is perfect.

Round out the color and flavor palate by taking those extra steps to steam and cut kernels off two cobs of corn is the “piece de resistance!”

Sheree has prepared a downloadable recipe for you to follow below.

Four Bean Salad by foodtalk4you.com.docxDownload

I hope you will enjoy preparing this as much as I do. There’s a new dinner gathering at a friend’s house this weekend. I know what I am bringing!


In health –

Deidre

Thanks to whoever purchased thirty-five copies of Toolkit for Caregivers on Amazon a couple days ago! Clearly, they are doing something very intentional with the tips, guided practice, and advice that I share with family caregivers.

In my journey as a care partner for my husband, I found the emotional roller coaster the most difficult element. This book is well-written and structured for quick hits about what you are dealing with at any moment. Excellent support. Expecially if you are feeling bad about some of your “low” emotions – read this to understand that it’s normal and discover new approaches for self-care.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, Stress Reduction, Titles Worth Reading

Ah, Nuts!!

Leave a comment

Nuts!

Oh, man! It’s been a long time since I had a fresh batch of nuts straight out of the dehydrator.

Light. Crunchy. That certain snap when you break one in half.

Mmmmm!

The goal was to have some nuts on hand for fall baking, but I’m telling you, these pecans are the best snack food! It may be a struggle saving some for those gluten-free, banana nut muffins I wanted to bake.

But, what’s this about dehydrating nuts? They look pretty dehydrated already.

Well, the goal is to ‘activate’ them. Shucks, just let me quote my first book, Toolkit for Wellness:

“Raw nuts are better than nuts highly processed in “Franken oils,” but raw nuts still have factors in them that inhibit proper absorption and can contribute to unhappy tummies. Enter the “activated nut,” which has been handled in such a way as to eliminate the anti-digestive phytates and to activate beneficial digestive enzymes instead.”

So, there you go.

Once you have had an activated nut, you’ll never want to go back to using the others.

Here’s the process for activating raw nuts right at home:

Using glass bowls, dissolve about 1 teaspoon of sea salt in 6 cups of water; add raw nuts, and soak.

My large bag of nuts from Costco requires two large bowls. The nuts will swell with water, so you need to give them enough room.

The water will turn quite brown. I have found that non-metal bowls work best as the brown nut residue can stain the metal ones.

Walnuts, almonds, and pecans can soak for 12 hours; cashews take just 6 hours.

Pour the soaked nuts and the water into a colander placed in the sink and thoroughly rinse them. Spread the rinsed nuts onto a large towel, rolling the towel up to let it absorb any extra moisture for a few minutes.

Remember the brown residue? The rinsed nuts will also leave a bit of color, so, I recommend using a large old bath towel dedicated to nuts (and blueberries!).

You can then move on to the dehydrating process.

If using a dehydrator, spread the nuts out in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between each one for air circulation. Place the trays into the dehydrator set to 115-125 degrees Fahrenheit (temperature for “living foods”) and set the timer for twelve hours.

Test one for dryness when time is up; add time as needed.

If using the oven method, spread nuts out on large baking trays – do not crowd them. Set oven for the lowest temperature possible.

The drying time will be shorter since the temperature is higher than the dehydrator. Stir the nuts every hour and check for crispness after 6 hours.

Store activated nuts in a closed container in a cool environment. Nuts can be frozen for longer storage.

Honestly, these activated nuts have such unique qualities of flavor, crispiness, and are gentler on the tummy – your baked goods will shine!

Then, again, you might just forget the sugary baked goods, save time, and use these as holiday snack food gifts!

In health –

Deidre

If you are not already a subscriber to Foodtalk4you, just click on the subscribe button to make sure you don’t miss a single issue. Readers enjoy knowing that after the introductory welcome emails, they will simply get an email each Tuesday morning containing the link to the latest post. No pop-up ads – just a weekly missive about things we all can do to benefit our mind, body, and spirit. Thanks!

Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

Grandma Moses

Leave a comment

Heroes.

Whenever I am asked to name my heroes, I find myself puzzled to name just a few because I am inspired by so many, and I am grateful for so many others along the way who were instrumental at critical times in my life.

I had no dramatically obvious heroes, like someone who saved me from a burning building.

My parents, no doubt, saved us kids from certain death countless times every day as we grew up. Hero parents? Absolutely. Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad!

But what about people whose inspiration plays in the back of your mind your whole life?

I think those folks are heroes, too. Don’t you?

Two of my heroes’ inspiring messages are playing out in my life as a septuagenarian, right now.

The inspiring hero I know the most about was forced to give up her favorite pastime, embroidery, when she was seventy-six because of advancing arthritis.

Inspired by her sister’s comment, that holding a paintbrush instead of a fine embroidery needle and thread would be easier, she took up painting at seventy-eight.

No lessons, no pencil drawings to practice perspective, and no knowledge of mixing colors.

She just used supplies at hand from the garden shed: some leftover house paint and scrap boards.

And she painted.

No grand scheme, just painting to pass the time; and to please herself, as she recreated scenes from her former farm life.

Fast forward:

She was invited to the White House by President Truman when she was eighty-nine.

When she was ninety-three, she appeared on the cover of TIME magazine.

Before she died in 1961 at age 101, she had painted over 1,500 works.

Years after her death, one of her works sold for $1.36 million.

A beautiful telling of the whole story of Grandma Moses can be FOUND HERE.

What has always made Grandma Moses’ inspiration real to me came as a gift from my hero mom when I was a freshman in college. She gave me Samuel Clement Moore’s, The Night Before Christmas, fully illustrated by Grandma Moses.

Not only was I holding a piece of Americana, but I was also holding the inspiration that – even as I was just starting to invent and discover who I was and what I’d become in college – I could continue to grow, expand, reinvent myself, and flourish well into my advanced years.

Age is not a limitation to development, discovery, or productivity.

I know less about my other similarly inspiring hero even though she was in my family.

One of my grandmother’s sisters, Iona, also became a painter very late in life. I am privileged to have one of her oil paintings in my home.

But the message is the same one from both of these late blooming artists: Do what you love, and self-discovery does not stop at any age.

Yes, I do dabble in artwork – mostly associated with hand-crafted and hand-painted cards.

But I started this blog when I was sixty-four, and I started writing and publishing books at sixty-five, sixty-nine, seventy-four, and seventy-five years of age.

Speaking to groups and giving online presentations to support family caregivers is my delight.

As Louise Hay – another inspiring hero of mine – always said, “The Moment of Power is NOW!”

Use your power – NOW – at ANY age!


In health –

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

The Weatherman

Leave a comment

Every once in a while, we come across a book that moves us.

Never did I imagine, a memoir written by a young meteorologist in Eastern North Carolina would make me want to shout about it from the proverbial rooftops – but I am.

This book caught my eye because I used to live in his broadcast area; I love hearing about weather, and I needed some inspiration!

As a former classroom teacher, I would want every employee in the educational system to read this book – along with every student.

And every parent.

And … every human.

Why?

Because you will develop an understanding that will give birth to compassion.

Because there will be inspiration that will give birth to fortitude that will result in accomplishments.

Because there will be good news on so many levels!

It’s a thin book – just 3/8 of an inch thick – but its message goes on for miles.

The Weather Inside, A Memoir of Storms, Survival, and Self-Discovery, written by Russell Je’Juan James, is the book that I would want everyone to read – especially as we start this new academic year.

The author, now a meteorologist who stands in front of cameras and intense lighting to deliver critical weather information to his audience that depends upon his forecasts – especially in hurricane prone Eastern North Carolina – was diagnosed with autism that was so severe he could not talk in complete sentences for years.

Written straight from the heart, Russell James’s ingeniously laid out story line and honest account of what he was thinking, feeling, and experiencing during those silent years and beyond is astounding.

His struggle and overwhelm were real. Some of that struggle and overwhelm will continue daily for his entire life. How he arrived at his coping techniques is clearly explained; along with how he incorporates them into his daily schedule.

The appendix to his book offers specific resources for autistic adults, parents of autistic children, and a detailed guide for mental health exercises for autistic adults.

Even if we are not directly linked to autism – we live, work, and go to school with autistic individuals who are somewhere on that diverse Autism Spectrum.

Be prepared to live with greater understanding and compassion after reading his account.

Be prepared to be amazed by this man who is finishing his PhD, while regularly reporting the weather and coping every moment with his autism – invisible to his audience – but made visible by his open account.

In health –

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Habit Building, Titles Worth Reading

Resetting My Last Nerve!

Leave a comment

“What’s with all of these resets, Deidre?”

Last week it was a lymphatic system reset – what’s next?

First, let me ask you, are you doing the quick lymphatic reset?

It has helped us to start a delightful new habit at our house with 15-20 minutes of weight-bearing exercise – and the lymphatic reset right after our glass of (now alkaline) copper water and before our cup of coffee.

Normal everyday life always requires resets, right?

We’re a day older, and the body is constantly changing; we are responding to new situations; we learn better ways, or we have to figure out new ways to pivot. Resets abound.

So, here’s another tool for our Toolkits for Health: two resets for the vagus nerve.

The Autonomic Nervous System controls many of our automatic body functions and is divided into two main branches: the Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest and digest).

The vagus nerve—our “Great Wandering Nerve”—is the longest of the cranial nerves. It leaves the skull, travels through the neck and continues throughout the body, connecting with organs – including the heart and gut. It plays a major role in activating the parasympathetic, rest-and-digest response.

It is easy to see the frantic, stress-filled fight or flight responses ever-present in our lives. Our heads are spinning with often anxious thoughts, worries, and activities.

Hardly a healthful setup for regaining our composure.

How can we calm down in a way that will help us greet the challenges before us?

How to get our vagus nerve humming along in ‘chill out’ mode?

By humming!

Reset number 1: Weather you use a yoga “ohm,” or you hum a tune, by breathing in through the nose and humming closed-lipped, you are stimulating your vagus nerve!

Place your fingertips at the base of your throat/neck. Hum. Feel those vibrations?

Keeping your lips closed, open your mouth as you hum.

Move your fingers around your face and nose, feeling the vibrations as you change how you hum.

You can even feel the vibrations of humming in your chest.

Try humming for two to three minutes while you wash your face in cold water each morning – another great vagus nerve stimulant – and continue while you get dressed, for example.

Anytime, anywhere – an easy tool at our aide.

For more information and a video go here:

Reset number 2: try this delightful set of three head movements that created an immediate positive result for me by Dr. Jon Saunders:

Because we hold so much tension and stress in our head and neck areas, these easy movements can open up the vagus nerve’s calming influence right where we need it the most.

Used together or separately, I found the effect of all three produced an almost magical release in the physical tension I had been dealing with for two weeks in my head and neck. Definitely, something I will be repeating!

Next week, we will change topics as I share a jewel of a story about accepting, over-coming, adapting, and not listening to negative voices. A must read for families, educators, and for all humans who care.

In health –

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Titles Worth Reading

Tai Chi and Staying Peaceful

Leave a comment

My morning practice has become non-negotiable.

When you begin the day grounded and intentional — before the noise of the world and the needs of others take over — you make it possible to meet whatever comes your way with greater calm, clarity, and grace.

But there is one recently added element of my practice that transformed me in such a profound way today. I was tingling, maybe buzzing, with awareness that had me noticing a smile and a glow from the inside out.

But first, to recap:

One large glass of copper water. Check.

Walk around the neighborhood – no earbuds – to fully participate with the sights, sounds, and feels around me. Check.

Sunlight in my eyes to help calibrate my hormones for the new day as I looked up to the skies with a grateful, seeking heart. Check.

Savor quiet conversation with my partner as we enjoy our first cup of coffee. Check.

Heading to the sunny window of my office – my space – I return to my grateful heart and an openness to silent contemplation and receptivity, incorporating my affirmations. Check.

Then, came the revelation.

Already feeling balanced – and what I thought was tension-free – I turned to a new offering from my recent endeavors in Tai Chi.

Why Tai Chi?

It seems more assessable, because there is no equipment or special clothing. I do Tai Chi standing up, and it’s usually done with shoes on. So, totally convenient: just me, upright.

Finding a practitioner who resonates has been a journey – there are so many ads in social media that offer false transformations and whose practices look nothing like real Tai Chi.

I first wanted to learn about Tai Chi walking, which uses a gentle shifting of body weight from one leg to another, creating an ’empty’ or weightless leg. It focuses on slow, purposeful movements to move – versus using momentum.

I am now subscribing to Ann Swanson on YouTube to learn more.

This morning I discovered her Beginner Tai Chi Warmups to Ease Pain | Qi gong Morning Routine for

Flexibility & Balance and my day has been transformed.

I am not in pain, off balance, or inflexible. I was already feeling an inner balance, peace, and confidence – but I wanted to do a bit of Tai Chi to finish the start of my day.

One of the benefits to Tai Chi – aside from better balance, fall prevention, and joint relief – is the calming quality of this ‘moving meditation’ – anchoring our attention to the present moment.

This beginner’s warm-up video utilized what I call a body scan at the beginning of the practice and at the close. Immediately, my focus was drawn in to how I was standing and what I was feeling.

I wrote about this technique a few years ago – see Foodtalk4you April 2021 – I also have recommended body scans for caregivers to increase self-awareness in my book, Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions.

The magical mixture of Swanson’s guidance and my slow, gentle and deliberate movements – coupled with my growing self-awareness – produced in me, not only deep relaxation, but an indescribable vibrant glow!

All I can say is, “Wow!” – all in under 15 minutes!

Try it – you’ll like it!

In health –

Deidre

Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, Titles Worth Reading

Autoimmune Hide and Seek

Leave a comment

When the experiences of a childhood game of hide and seek are applied to medical conditions, it’s no longer a fun game.  

Many of our foodtalk4you readers are familiar with their own frustrating experiences of medical hide and seek. An odd symptom here. A strange feeling there. Periods of, “I just don’t feel well.”  

Wondering if it’s “all in my head.”  

Feeling discounted by family, friends, and professionals who are thinking it is all in your head.  

We’re talking about the shadowy world of autoimmune disease.  

May is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, and I wanted to, once again, touch on the topic and highlight some general approaches that are applicable to all of us.  

Millions of people live with autoimmune diseases, yet awareness remains surprisingly low.  Conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Celiac Disease affect daily life in ways others may not see – symptoms are often invisible, unpredictable, and misunderstood.  

Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any part or organ system of the body and are often difficult to identify. Fatigue is one of the most common—and most disabling—symptoms many people experience.  

It’s not hard to see that autoimmune disease can thus impact more than the person’s body – it can also affect relationships, careers, caregiving responsibilities, and mental well-being.  

At foodtalk4you, our focus has always been on the lifestyle choices that support overall wellness for those with autoimmune disease, because these healthy approaches can benefit everyone.  

Consider:  

  1. Anti-inflammatory foods  
  2. Stress reduction  
  3. Improved sleep  
  4. Gentle movement  
  5. Reducing processed foods  
  6. Identifying food sensitivities  
  7. Mindfulness  

This reads like the table of contents to my first book, Toolkit for Wellness. I call such an approach an ‘Anti-inflammatory Life.’ 

To manage an anti-inflammatory life, consider adopting an anti-inflammatory diet with these guidelines:  Focus on whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.  

Incorporate healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts, to reduce inflammation.  

Limit processed foods, refined sugars, and trans fats that can trigger inflammatory responses.  

Include omega-3 fatty acids from sources like fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts.  

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and herbal teas.  

Consider eliminating common allergens like gluten and dairy to identify potential triggers.  

Our greater awareness can lead to:  earlier diagnosis  better support systems  reduced stigma  more compassionate workplaces and families .

Sometimes the most meaningful support begins simply by believing someone when they say, “I don’t feel well,” even when they look fine on the outside.  

Take time to listen and just be there, supporting them with your presence.  

If you are playing hide-and-seek with symptoms and answers, continue to embrace an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, as you also approach your health care provider with questions about auto-immune disease testing.  

Next week, I will be posting an Ayurvedic staple, which will help all of us on our anti-inflammatory journey!   

In health –  

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Recipes, Titles Worth Reading

One Small Step …

Leave a comment

… leads to a gentle transformation.

Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – discovering my dosha seemed like the most sensible first step. Have you Googled, “what dosha am I,” yet?

Haha! I’m still noodling around with that one! Banyanbotanicals.com is proving to be a useful, user-friendly, free resource which also offers an assortment of free next steps, including yoga variations, to help each dosha.

Those questionnaires are a bit tricky because it’s important to understand the point of reference for each item and to be mindful of how you used to be – versus how you are now, including when you were at your most-balanced state – versus – when you were stressed.

Taking assessments from various free sources would be beneficial to more accurately zero-in on your dosha. Banyan recommends retaking the quizzes to get a feel of how you are changing over time.

So, doshas aside, the text I am using to launch my journey of self-discovery is Kate O’Donnell’s The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook.

Just starting with her introduction, I was already finding myself skipping around her excellent book to learn more about each of the concepts I was discovering. There are bookmarks and Post-it notes everywhere!

Which brings us back to the grounding philosophy I have always used: make any changes to your life in teeny, tiny bites that are sustainable.

As you get comfortable with that one thing, add another teensy adjustment – that is hardly even a blip on your radar – and incorporate that into the fabric of your life.

I chose to start with a simple cooked breakfast cereal.

Longtime readers of foodtalk4you know my fascination with variations on the theme of ‘gruel’ – often adding everything I could think of (chia, ground flax seed, pumpkin seeds, etc.), and using what I called ‘sweet spices’ plus vanilla, to trick the palate into not needing much or any added sugar.

The recipe in O’Donnell’s book features just buckwheat – not a grain, but a seed – and is gluten-free. She flavors this with her trio of sweet spices: cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, plus vanilla extract.

After the 1/2 cup of buckwheat, sweet spice mix, and 2 cups of water have cooked, 1 cup of fresh strawberries and 2 teaspoons of coconut oil are stirred in and allowed to rest for 5 minutes before serving – along with 1/4 cup toasted, unsweetened-shredded coconut sprinkled on top of the two bowls.

The next time we made this, we found adding a pinch of salt to be beneficial.

Holding power? Our bowl of her ‘berry buck-up cereal’ not only felt easy on the tummy, but sustained us all morning.

The rational behind this?

Seeking more ways to calm inflammation, which is the first domino to fall leading to ‘dis-ease.’

Whether you believe yourself to be sensitive to the effects of gluten or not, gluten is pro-inflammatory.

Take a tiny first step to start your day with less inflammation on board. You don’t have to jump into the deep end – just a few times a week. Start there.

Our next post will dive into a balancing staple food of Ayurveda, which is good anytime, anywhere, for anyone – and is perfectly neutral, adaptable, and an excellent resource for the change of seasons we are all experiencing right now.

In health –

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Stress Reduction, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

Making A Positive Entrance

Leave a comment

What kind of an entrance are you making?

“To what? A meeting?”

Well, let’s start with your day. How are you entering this new day?

“Yawn, well after that first glass of water you told us about, it’s coffee for sure.”

Is your cell phone already in your hands? Are you immediately scrolling for the latest?

Or perhaps that mental reel is still playing in your mind, filling you with stress? You are supplying both sides of the conversation, and the message is full of labels – never good ones.
We can’t make that good first impression entrance to an event, a conversation, or our day if we are pulling from empty or poorly replenished reserves.

With the daily challenges that we are all facing with personal issues – let alone world issues – daily resets are no longer optional for me. How about you?

I will offer two points and a change in perspective for you today.

One. Find a happy place for daily resets.

It could be a park bench on your lunch break. Perhaps the top step going to your front door.

No cell phone.

Listen.

Be aware of what’s around you. Observe. Drop your gaze and mindfully breathe.

Read something that inspires you, directs you to a higher path, and that gives you peace.

Journal. The power of unfiltered brain dumps through journaling is not to be underestimated. Paper, pen and a few minutes of sharing with that page is utterly transformative – and cheap therapy.

Release your cares to the fresh air above, the universe, or your higher power. Our fretting mental reels never solve our problems. Just make yourself open to receiving the answers or guidance for your next steps.

Two. Assume a positive intent in others.

Reading a quote from business executive and former CEO of Pepsi, Indra Nooyi, recently blew me away with its simplicity. She speaks of approaching others:

“When you assume negative intent, you’re angry. If you take away that anger and assume positive intent, you will be amazed.”

She goes on to explain how such an approach changes us – we become more intent on understanding the other person and are listening more carefully to them without being defensive at the onset. This sends a positive message to the other person that will often lead to more constructive, respectful interactions.

A change in perspective:

We’ve all seen those humbling, awe-inspiring images of Earth from space—our small, radiant planet suspended in darkness, wrapped in a thin, fragile atmosphere.

Do those views stir something in you—a sense of love, protectiveness, even responsibility? From that distance, “world peace” begins to feel less like an abstract ideal and more like a shared necessity. Perspective changes everything.

The minutia falls away – of no importance – as the big picture gives us pause.

Taking that same kind of perspective on our own lives can help quiet the worries and negative loops, making space to reset—with more compassion for others and for ourselves.

Find that happy place to regularly give yourself a reset and assume the positive in your daily interactions – now, that’s a good way to make a grand entrance!

Deidre

If you are looking for some resources to build up your resilience, get these FREE downloadable Resilience Practices HERE.

Originally designed to help family caregivers, these resources are universally applicable and can guide you through practices that will help you build your inner strength.

Blogging for good health!, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

Rolling The Genetic Dice

Leave a comment

Did you get Dad’s green eyes? How about Mom’s curly hair?

It’s always interesting to see how children turn out – who they will favor and what they will look like.

All lighthearted musings for most of us.

What if there was a 50/50 chance you could have inherited an incurable, always fatal disease from one of your parents?

What if that parent didn’t clearly show anything very out of the ordinary and didn’t even know they had that disease?

Would you even want to know if you inherited it?

That’s just a few of the endless questions family members of loved ones with Huntington’s Disease (HD) ask themselves.

With approximately 41,000 Americans symptomatic for HD and 200,000 at risk of having inherited the disease, there is a chance you might not know much about this disease.

Because of two of my new author friends, Sarah Foster and Lori Jones, my eyes have been opened to the poignant minefield of how this disease can unfold in individuals and in the families that surround them.

Reading this quote from Spared: A Memoir of Risk and Resolve by Lori Jones, you can begin to appreciate the weight of an HD diagnosis:

“Often called “the world’s cruelest disease,” according to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, HDSA, Huntington’s disease is described as, “having ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s simultaneously.”

This article from HDSA contains part of Sarah Foster’s story:

Sarah Foster has written two books, Me and HD (2015) and This Is Me Smiling (2025). In both, she holds nothing back in recounting her decision to get tested for HD; how her diagnosis confirmed her mother’s own – untested – diagnosis, and the ever-changing landscape of living with HD.

When Sarah shared this article from the BBC:

I joined the jubilation!

To quote:

“An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.

It means the decline you would normally expect in one year, would take four years after treatment – giving patients decades of ,”good quality life,” Prof. Sarah Tabrizi told BBC News.

The new treatment is a type of gene therapy given during 12 to 18 hours of delicate brain surgery.”

Clearly, with this lengthy brain surgery, treatment will be incredibly expensive – but there now is a treatment they can work with!

Yay, science!

Yay, to funding researchers!

If you know of someone with HD or not, both author’s stories deserve to be read and understood because their stories are a part of our collective humanity.

In health –

Deidre