MS Madness

I was first introduced to Yvonne through a high school friend. Yvonne is a nice, very sincere person and I felt compelled to read MS Madness because I recently dated someone with MS and was looking to deepen my understanding.MS Madness humorous nature that Yvonne depicts of her going through and dealing with life makes the reader reflect on their own experiences. From being all of a sudden late for everything to wondering why certain feelings occur I think we can all relate to it at some level in our lives.Having spent a considerable amount of my time on the Cape in Falmouth as a kid I was able to relate to a lot of what she describes. The story leaves the reader with a warm feeling about themselves and life in general and her positivity and outlook on life are very admiring.I recommend MS Madness for those that have MS and might be able to relate to what she has experienced and can empathize with her feelings. And for those that don't have MS, I think it's an amazing read and a must to put on the list.I give it a thumbs up and I'm glad I ran into my high school friend and had the chance to meet Yvonne.Keep Smiling and keep writing Yvonne!

Just finished reading Yvonne deSousa's memoir MS MADNESS, and I'm totally bummed that it's over. I want to know what happened after the end!Of course that is testament to deSousa's fluid, breezy prose. She is truly a good person, better than most--and she puts it across not in a self-congratulatory way, but in her own natural rhythms rolling effortlessly from interior monologue to behaviors and, even through the brain fog, astute and funny observations about how MS might be affecting her.I found myself making comparisons between us as most people with MS will do with a comrade's personal story. But I latched onto the differences, specifically location and her work and volunteer situations more than anything. Cape Cod is a character unto itself, and Yvonne lovingly describes her childhood there so that I could see the tide pools and feel the salt spray on my face. There is a love for home in the story that can only come from someone who has happily remained living near her birthplace.Through the facets of her spiritual, social, and professional life, DeSousa crafts an engaging account of an ordinary daily life and how it is disrupted by chronic illness. She shows us the building blocks of her character and her gentle rebellions. I get the impression she's going to be okay. There's a kind of balance between the party girl, the spiritual woman, and the big-hearted giver that makes her the kind of person we'd all like to have as a special friend.I highly recommend this memoir. It's a light, entertaining must-read for anyone who's been diagnosed with MS--and anyone who has a loved one with MS.

I expected more about the MS journey- it was more of a rambling tone that often left me confused about what happened.

Well, this book is laugh out loud funny. As in literal "strangers looking at you because you can't stop cracking up" funny. Even if she didn't have MS, she's just a tremendously gifted, touching writer. I could really relate to much of her awkward interactions and I don't have MS! Life is frustrating! I was so sad when the book ended because her writing is just so perfect. I recommended it to everyone I knew. Occasionally one just comes across a great writer and she is it. Outstanding. Since this was only her first year of MS, I hope she writes a second memoir of the following years. I always feel like once a writer has a theme that WORKS they move to something else. I just adore her memoir style discussion of MS, and I could read a book every few years of an updated MS memoir by her. I want to laugh some more! She is a positive person who will knock you over laughing about something as relatable as abandoned string cheese. Best book I've read in ages, and I'm a bookworm.

Yvonne deSousa writes a very successful blog regarding her trip down the long highway of MS and that which she encounters along her journey. This is a raw, sensitive and humorous look into the wild reality of that which is MS. Those who have loved ones, friends, acquaintances and most especially those in the medical field who deal with MS patients should read this book to get an insiders unbiased look into that which is MS. After diagnosis I have read them "all" from Montel to Terry Wahl and a few “humorous” accounts of people diagnosed with MS which were funny, sad and introspective but none show the true meaning of the disease more than this accounting by Ms. deSousa. This is a non-clinical perspective, with excerpts taken from a very introspective and sometimes sad, sometimes funny blog. I implore all of you to READ this book. It is an easy read and it will show you that you are not alone in your endeavors and everyday struggles.

I was so thankful I heard of this book! It was very well written by someone who truly knows the problems, people with MS experience.There have been many books written by this 'nurse expert in MS' or that doctor specialist of MS and neurology. These 'experts' wowed you with all the letters after their names but made absolutely no sense to people reading their works who actually had the incurable, chronic diseases their books were about.They were not and are not the experts! We the people, who actually have the illnesses are the experts! The 'so called experts' should be LISTENING to the real experts to learn first hand what these diseases really mean to those of us who have them.Thank you, Yvonne for a humorous, knowledgable, easy to understand, and well written account of your first year with MS, you are a TRUE MS EXPERT!

This is a touching and informative memoir about a woman diagnosed with MS. The diagnosis affects all life aspects and Yvonne demonstrates it in her special and amusing way.The book is a must-read to everyone who wants to understand what it means to live with MS.As an MSer myself, I enjoyed Yvonne’s positive approach, which is essential to all MS struggles.

I highly recommend this book to everyone living with MS or dealing with a diagnosis from another type of serious health issue. Even for those who know nothing about MS, this is a great light-hearted story about life's journey having made other plans.This book was filled with humour as Yvonne dealt with her diagnosis and all the craziness of unpredictable MS symptoms, medical expenses, staying in the workforce, and all the rest of life.I chuckled throughout the story and laughed out loud more times than I can count. She overanalyzes everything but manages to keep a positive outlook on life as it is now and what it will look like in the future.As a fellow MSer I could relate to all the 'madness' in her life. Even the symptoms or situations I haven't experienced were easy to identify with by the way she presented them in the story.This was a great and very positive read. Will be recommending to everyone I know.

Enjoyable read, complete with laughs.

Hits very close to home. Its interesting to read someone else's humorous take on the nightmare of an MS diagnosis.

Yvonne's book was informative, personal, perceptive, and positive.