Adrienne squeezes more life into 147 days than most people do in a lifetime.
Adrienne Wilson is a depressed, suicidal teenager—until the day she receives a diagnosis of stage IV liver cancer. Facing the fight of her life, Adrienne discovered just how much she wants to live.In Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, Andrea Wilson Woods chronicles her sister’s remarkable life, from the time she was … sister’s remarkable life, from the time she was born to the day she dies at age fifteen.
Written like a journal, Andrea takes the reader inside her and Adrienne’s journey explaining how she gained custody of Adrienne from their mother and how the sisters’ relationship evolved over time.
Adrienne’s courageous spirit shines through as she squeezes more life into 147 days than most people do in a lifetime. From meeting Jay Leno to spending the day with Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, Adrienne makes every moment count.
As she lay dying, Adrienne teaches Andrea how to live.
Pick up your copy today and let Adrienne teach you how to squeeze more life into your days.
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A tough journey from healthy teenager to four stage liver cancer. Andrea tells a really tough, and heartwarming story about her beloved little sister and they fight against cancer.
An amazing memoir.
At the start of her book, the author is 13. And moving, which also means a new high school. With mum. She didn’t know at the time, but mum had another baby on the way. Her sister. Then it jumps ahead to where her little sister is 15. Her young sister started being ill in 2001. 18 years ago.
Written in the present-not the past. As things are happening. The diagnosis is confirmed. It’s very bad. Everything moves so fast, and the writing reflects this. Tumbles straight into Adrienne’s symptoms, seeing the doctor, and the shock diagnosis.
This is presented in a day by day diary/journal format, which is a favourite of mine. Then it has flashes back to when she was 13. When things were different. There are clear divisions/scene breaks in the book so it’s easy to see past/present.
This is a beautiful tribute to her sister. Not just about her cancer; about their whole lives together. You can’t fail to be touched by this moving and emotional memoir. I love medical memoirs, and this one is certainly an excellent example. It always feels wrong to say…..I mean, how can you say that you’re enjoying a book when it’s about such tragic circumstances? What it is, is that the author is so skilled at telling the circumstances and you’re gripped to read more and you feel all their emotions.
Andrea cancels job offers etc. She will focus on looking after her sick sister. There is no one else; with both parents out of the picture, Andrea is both sister, and mother to Adrienne. The book moved me so much. No one should have to go through this. The book, Andrea, and her memoir cast a spell over me. I just couldn’t stop reading it.
Extracts from Adrienne’s own journal begin each chapter/Day. Such a brave young lady. Such a strong-minded young girl. She keeps cheerful-often things she says touch you so much. Many issues, and many struggles, and Adrienne’s cancer will be the ultimate struggle. The worst thing they’ve ever had to face. Most chapters/Days have a photo at the end.
I’ve read quite a few cancer memoirs-this is much more than that as it has memories from all their lives together-this is one of the best. I wasn’t even halfway through and I had already added it to my five star books list.
Very detailed. Meds all named; their effects and side effects-drug combinations. Different procedures. Far more info than the usual cancer memoir-yet it never gets repetitive. Happy days out on good days. Then the dark days filled with pain and yet more procedures. I read these last chapters with a knot in my chest.
Andrea was both sister and mum to Adrienne. And Adrienne was everything to her. This book is a beautiful tribute to a unique and remarkable young lady. The book isn’t all dark days, Adrienne often has smiles-even in the later stages of the book, and she still has a little joke with her sis.
So touching, and incredibly moving. A heart-stoppingly brilliant memoir.
First, I want to thank Andrea Wilson Woods for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Better Off Bald A Life in 147 Days by Andrea Wilson Wood is a book that I highly suggest you add to your TBR list!! However, don’t forget to get your tissues ready, It is an incredibly beautiful written memoir about her sister Aidrenne’s journey as she battles Hepatocellular Carcinoma. My heart goes out to Andrea as this book must have been very emotional to write relieving everything that happened. I thank her for introducing her readers to her amazing, brilliant, larger than life personality, love of music, and beautiful on the inside and out.
Medical Memoirs are one of my favorite genres as I find medicine fascinating but also the human aspect. Now, I am not saying I wish for any disease I don’t-trust me I don’t! However, Andrea totally blew my mind in this book. She did a fantastic job about educating her readers about Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Every Dr. appointment and hospital stay she took her readers to. We got to see the growing list of meds, the medical tests she had and the results, etc.
I will say that I was not a fan of Dr. No and his terrible bedside manner! Having my own medical issues I know that I need a Dr. with good patient care-not a cold hearted one! For that experience I want to hug Andrea.
Not all of the book was medical based though Adrienne had some exciting things happen to her!!! She was incredibly blessed to attend the Jay Leno Show and meet her Idol Dave Noverro! However, that was not the only time she got to meet Dave!! Make a Wish Foundation makes incredible dreams happen for deserving people! This was one of my favorite parts in the book! Dave actually remembered her and it made her the happiest girl alive!!
Throughout this book you get to see Adrienne’s own words of what she was going through in journal entries. Plus, beautiful pictures of her as a child, many with her sister, and some with Dave. I loved how Andrea did this to personalize the story.
One of the most powerful scenes in the book where I cried my eyes out was when she was first diagnosed. The incredible emotion behind it and all the questions. I wanted to reach out to Andrea and Adrienne and give them both a hug! I couldn’t imagine her reliving that moment as she wrote that.
One thing that I loved about Adrienne is that she never gave up and kept fighting!!
I admired her for the amazing relationship she had with her sister/caregiver Andrea. She really stepped up to the plate in a huge way!
Other than sharing this incredible story of a beautiful girl inside and out-I am hoping this book can help someone going through Hepatocellular Carcinomoa.