A mother is told her 14 year-old daughter has only four, maybe six years to live because she has become inflicted with a mysterious disease. What does that mother do? If she’s Victoria Jackson, “Goodwill Ambassador” for billion-dollar Infomercial make-up Giant, Guthy-Renker she takes on the medical establishment. In addition, Victoria Jackson uses her business savvy to set up a Charitable Foundation to focus much needed medical attention and research on this little known disease called Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease (NMO) which is known for causing blindness, life-threatening seizures and fatal auto-immune paralysis.
SAVING EACH OTHER is a love story between mother, Victoria Jackson and daughter, Ali Guthy. Early on when symptoms begins to surface, NMO masks itself as a form of MS which throws doctors off, but with Victoria positioned as “The Finder” and husband, Bill Guthy, “The Funder” no stone will be left unturned to find a cure for Ali's disease.
Early on in the process, Ali makes a decision to “be kept in the dark,” not to know anything about her disease, including the name. All she’s aware of is the fact she has to take steroids and faces very painful occasional episodes. Ali and her father are very close and he’s the introvert of the family. Then there’s her mom who pretends “everything is okay” with her make-up face on. In many ways, she’s carrying the weight of the family.
SAVING EACH OTHER alternates between Victoria’s and Ali’s viewpoints. It keeps the narrative moving along and the reader’s attention. It’s interesting to find out whether Ali thinks “ignorance is bliss,” or perhaps “knowledge is power” in the end.
For more information about NMO or to join in the fight against this rare disease. Find out how at Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation's website.
Thanks to FSB Associates for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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