A Texas attorney’s life rapidly changes when he learns that he may have Lou Gehrig’s disease in this debut memoir.

Millard was 54 years old when he was informed by doctors that he might be suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative nervous system disease. Born in Dallas, the author describes his early life, including his family’s relocation to Muncie, Indiana, where he lived a healthy “upper middle class” childhood. As a young adult, he earned graduate degrees in law and business. He progressed from spending summers working in a criminal law practice in Dallas to becoming a partner in a national law firm. Married with two children, he found his privileged lifestyle threatened when his health began to deteriorate in 2008. Millard recounts how he began slurring his words and how a growing inability to function led to his dismissal in 2009. He was told that he had signs of ALS and dementia and his mental decline led to his facing divorce and estrangement from his children. After suffering a grand mal seizure, the author woke from a coma to find he was a quadriplegic. He spent seven years in specialist care before pursuing a recovery. In his book, which includes photographs of family and friends, Millard describes in succinct detail his experiences as a quadriplegic: He remembers “the sensation of concentrating on making some part of my body, usually my right arm or an ankle, twist or rise up. It simply would not happen.” The author includes observations from a patient’s perspective that could prove useful in improving health care facilities: “Care facilities mean well, I know, but at even the finest of facilities there are times when a patient is unattended, feels neglected, or is subject to an aide’s attention necessarily being elsewhere.” Millard also demonstrates a wry wit that propels the narrative: “Apparently I did not die, as the story of my adventure here would not be going anywhere if I had.” There are rare occasions when the author repeats himself, such as after his miraculous recovery, he mentions purchasing a “mature” Volvo twice. This does not detract from a lucid and controlled memoir that is written in a manner that allows readers to share Millard’s experience and rejoice in every sign of recovery.

Insightful, inspirational writing in a sharply informative account of a patient’s road to recovery.