I’m not plagued by horrible allergies so when my blogging friend Kathryn Chastain Treat launched her book – Allergic to Life – I bought it in a show of solidarity and friendship.
I began reading ‘Allergic to Life’ for all the fantastic information I knew it would contain.
I kept reading ‘Allergic to Life’ because it was one of the best medical thrillers I’ve ever read.
Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. I did say thriller.
‘Allergic to Life’ traces Kathryn’s descent into nightmare as her body betrays her. It follows her desperate search for answers. It chronicles her battle for justice. And it reveals a woman who simply won’t give up.
Despite knowing some of Kathryn’s life story before I read the book, I found her journey absolutely riveting. And more than a little thought provoking. Over five nights of reading, I would often drift off to sleep wondering if I would have the guts and determination to keep going the way Kathryn did. Some nights the answer was yes, others it was no.
Yet don’t think for a moment that Kathryn has painted herself as some kind of superwoman. The person who emerges from the pages of the book is shown warts and all. She is you, and she is me. The only difference between us is that Kathryn has had to face trials none of us can even imagine.
How would you feel if you were as sick as a dog, but most of the medical profession refused to believe you? How would you feel if they continued to deny the truth despite reams of proof in the form of countless test results?
Would you get horribly depressed? Kathryn did.
Would you give up? Kathryn didn’t. Her courage and determination are a big part of what makes ‘Allergic to Life’ such a compelling, and uplifting story.
Those who suffer from allergies the way Kathryn does should read ‘Allergic to Life’ for the information, and for a boost when their spirits are flagging. The rest of us should read it because it’s a damned good read. Oh and its beautifully written too. 🙂
Now why don’t you hop over to Kathryn’s blog and take part in her book launch party!
cheers
Meeks
Meeka's Mind 
October 22nd, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Allergic to Life sounds like an intriguing book, and Kathryn an amazing person. There are too many tragic or scary stories of people being sent off from doctors surgeries with inadequate care. I always wonder after seeing a medical centre GP if what they are doing is what they had in mind when they studied medicine. If so, it defies my understanding.
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October 22nd, 2013 at 9:49 pm
For a number of years we had a fantastic local gp who always took the time to talk to her patients, and was a great diagnostician as well. Sadly most aren’t like that. I can’t imagine how it would be that much different to working on a production line – with people instead of components. 😦
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October 21st, 2013 at 6:01 pm
From the days of ‘The Boy in the Bubble’ we’ve known that allergies are on the increase and that some people suffer almost total allergy with the world today. More and more medical professionals have had to open their eyes to fibromyalgia and ME but many more still need to do so. If they can’t see it they reject it.
Good luck to Kathryn.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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October 21st, 2013 at 10:29 pm
Yes, I remember that poor child. 😦 I think back then we thought it was genetic or something – a tragic, fluke happening. Thank god at least some doctors are starting to see the light.
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October 21st, 2013 at 12:43 pm
It sounds like a very interesting book. I have no idea what was the author’s illness — but the question you ask — “How would you feel if you were as sick as a dog, but most of the medical profession refused to believe you? How would you feel if they continued to deny the truth despite reams of proof in the form of countless test results?” represents something that happened to milllions of women over the years until the medical profession came to admit that fibromyalgia is really an illness. Until very recently, they treated women who were suffering from this debilitating syndrome with disdain, telling them it’s all in their heads. So nothing will surprise me…
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October 21st, 2013 at 4:43 pm
I’ve heard the name but I don’t really know what fybromyalgia is, for which I am truly thankful. I think close minded medical professionals have a lot to answer for. 😦
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October 21st, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Reblogged this on allergictolifemybattle and commented:
This review was written by a wonderful blogger friend. Her review is humbling and brought tears to my eyes.
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October 21st, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Thank you for writing such a wonderful review.
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October 21st, 2013 at 4:40 pm
😀
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