Hope Springs Eternal: Surviving a Chronic Disease [Paperback]

David R. Atkinson (Author), David R. Arkinson (Author), Debbie Atkinson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

The author a victim of a motor neuron disease, uses his own story to provide hope for those facing severe illness, for their caregivers and physicians, and for anyone who wants a preventative approach. Atkinson investigated alternative treatments and found ways to slow or reverse his illness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: A.R.E. Press (Association of Research & Enlig (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876044089
• ISBN-13: 978-0876044087
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A source of inspiration which I am passing on to others., November 24, 2007

By 

Cynthia Clare (Harvard, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope Springs Eternal: Surviving a Chronic Disease (Paperback)

My uncle sent this book to me and since my father died of ALS, I read it with great interest. I also found the book to be a starting point for me, a success story of sorts, as I battle with a recent diagnosis of another auto-immune disease without effective treatment. I'm the "monkey see, monkey do" sort, so I needed guidance from someone who's walked in very similar shoes and could offer perspectives and advice I'm not getting from the medical establishment. I am so grateful for this book, as it continues to help me persevere -- I recommend it highly to patients and caregivers alike.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, May 30, 2009

By 

Thomas F. Lawson (Virginia Beach, Va.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hope Springs Eternal: Surviving a Chronic Disease (Paperback)

This is a book about both transformation and healing with the healing only coming after David Atkinson's 'transformation' from an unawares, self-absorbed and self-admittedly arrogant individual to one who became healed from a deadly disease as a result.
As a therapist, over the years, I have both recommended and givens this book to perhaps five or six people suffering from similar neuro-motor diseases, desiring to offer them hope and have spoken to David several times on the phone and learning of his desire to help others.
Those few who have 'crashed', as David describes that he had to do in his own life, seeing that the disease was in fact, a 'gift', for him to awaken to a deeper level of being, have benefited greatly from David's story. Most though apparently don't and have 'become' their disease, their identity. All of them of course, absolutely deny that this is so and that's OK. For those people though who love to see 'wholiness' IS possible through the process of letting their present state of being 'die', so that the 'next level' of their being can be 'born', there is no better book that describes this process. David's book, to me, reminds me of the old Sufi adage: "Those who know, never say, for those who don't, never ask and will deny if told"! David 'knows'. He's been there and in his book, he's trying to share what's its like going through a process of death & resurrection, and becoming much more of a truly 'human' being in the process.
If you are ill with a similar disease, and realize that you are NOT your disease, and that this 'dis-ease' is simply the soul describing that a correction is in order, then you may find great joy in David Atkinson's book. For those who don't 'see' the truth in this, the only possible response is Houston Smith's advice when speaking to 'True Believers' of any ilk, and that is 'God bless You'.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a must for all of us PALS, February 3, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Guatemala) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope Springs Eternal: Surviving a Chronic Disease (Paperback)

David has an excellent way of telling his story and beeing able to beat his ALS. He has given me hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. It is a positive book that every PALS should read.