The first half of the book has virtually no point to it. The second half is better - this is when the author finally starts talking about Lyme disease, and when I began to connect somewhat with her thought processes and emotions.

Honestly, the "lesson" she learned is one that is important for anyone struggling with health issues, particularly autoimmune illness, and doing everything possible to heal: Balance is everything. An obsession with getting better is so stressful and anxiety-inducing that you will make yourself worse, not better.

I just think Scher could have communicated this more effectively, and succinctly, in a blog post.

A few other notes:
- There is profanity.
- Scher grew up nominally Jewish, though currently embraces a "spirituality" that borrows from Buddhism, Hinduism, astrology, etc.
- The treatment she receives in India uses embryonic stem cells. The doctor administering it is proud that she uses "only" one embryo for all of the cells used in her hospitals, but because I'm morally opposed to the use of embryos in this way (I believe life begins at the moment sperm fertilizes an egg), this is really no consolation.
- The author comes across as very privileged, and mostly seems to take her privilege for granted, sadly. ( )

Our book group was given this book to read and review. We Skyped with the author at our January 2019 meeting. My first impression, before our discussion with the author, is that the book is very well-written: entertaining and humorous, descriptive with the right amount of detail, contains likeable characters, as well as being realistic and honest. I haven't read any other books in this genre of illness and healing, and have no desire to go to India, but I admired the author, Amy, and her parents, so there was much to like...until the last quarter of the book. That's when things got a little "new age-y" and "finding your truth" for me.

Amy is just as bubbly and fun in person (via Skype) as she comes across in the book. She was honest and open, and delightful. I was glad to know that she continues to be well, and is happy with her current life. She has a good attitude about health and healing, which is part of the conclusion of the book.

Thanks to BookClubCookbook.com and publisher Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster for providing our book group with copies of this book, as a result of their GalleyMatch program. ( )

Thanks to Book Club Cookbook and Gallery books.

Quite a life she lead with not knowing she had Lyme disease and she was misdiagnosed so many times and so many tests in so many renowned medical facilities.

Going to India to get stem cell transplants was her last hope and it was successful in many ways; not only in her illness but in learning the way that these people live and the Indian food that she never enjoyed living in the U.S. but grew to love there along with the many other opportunities that India provided in the "off time" of her time in the hospital.

Her parents were supportive in going with her and her Jewish mother is so cool and her father was a source of support. I learned a lot about her family also and how close she is to them.

I laughed some, I cried some. My emotions were all over the place. ( )

After years of symptoms, of being misdiagnosed, even by the reknown Mayo Clinic, Amy finally gets a diagnosis. Stage four Lyme disease, with no known cure, just a slew of drugs that leave her in a pain filled non life. Unable to work, her relationship in tatters, she learns of a stem cell treatment in India that has successfully reversed paralysis in spinal injuries. Though it has not been used for her disease, she sees it as her last hope, applies and is accepted. Accompanied by her parents, she flies from California to Delhi, a whole new and strange world.

I enjoyed the way this story was told, naturally, as if she were having a conversation face to face. Her past, her pains, the treatments and medicines that didn't work, her fears and her hope that this will work. The descriptions of India, the street scene, the busyness, the market, the food, all so strange and loud in the beginning, but embraced by the end. Her parents were wonderful, supporting, funny, though her dad suffers from depression, he is fully supportive of his daughter, enamored still of his wife.

This is the best type of mrmoir, well told, relateable to those of us who suffer various issues. A good message to remember to never give up, there may be something out there. If not now, maybe in the future.

ARC from Edelweiss ( )

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

The book is brilliant. I'm in awe of this woman who spent so long losing a battle with Lyme Disease. She went to India for stem cell treatment. The stem cells used, are from a single embryo that was donated to the doctor from a couple who had embryos made up for fertility treatment. When they reached success, they wanted to give something back.

It's a very easy going book, being that it's mostly made up of blog entries that Amy wrote while undergoing treatment. And reading about her healing is just amazing. Why are we not doing this here???

It's also a wonderful study of the culture shock when a San Francisco gal goes to one of the largest cities in India, Delhi. I'm still in love with India, but I'm less eager to move there. lol

Amy doesn't really pull any stops. She's working her butt off to get rid of the Lyme and all the things that go along with it, and she's sharing it all right here with us. ( )