LAST NERVE
A Memoir of Illness and the Endurance of Family
One woman’s story of confronting the monster under the bed
Last Nerve is much more than a trauma memoir. The story begins as Mindy Uhrlaub learns that she carries the gene for the fatal neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The news, while not surprising, is compounded by the fact that she is caring for her husband, who is undergoing chemotherapy for stage four lymphoma, raising a child with serious behavioral issues, and watching her own mother die of ALS. As she navigates the new territory of having three close relatives with life-threatening situations, she also has to come to terms with the fact that she may have passed the fatal gene to her two sons. Not one to fold, Mindy faces her circumstances head-on, realizing that her race for the elusive cure for ALS is not only for herself but also for her kids, her cousins, and the thousands of other carriers of the fateful gene.
Despite the incredible strain of all these challenges, Mindy manages them with amazing tenderness, persistence, and love. Far from a depressing story of misfortune, Last Nerve is as uplifting and witty as it is raw and real. It’s a testament to hope, the endurance of family, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Reviews
‘Last Nerve: A Memoir of Illness and the Endurance of Family,’ is a singularly courageous exploration of what it means to face adversity head-on. Writing with breathtaking honesty, Mindy Uhrlaub takes us on a deeply compelling journey through resilience, love, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Proving that all the best stories, like this one, are about hope.
-Janis Cooke Newman, author of The Russian Word for Snow and A Master Plan for Rescue
Mindy Uhrlaub’s powerful and inspiring memoir is a work of courageous transformation. She deepens her soul by turning her pain into power and ardently committing herself to the struggle against ALS for the legacy of her mother, for herself, and for all those suffering from the disease. We are grateful.
- V (formerly Eve Ensler) author of The Vagina Monologues and Reckoning
“Last Nerve” is a deeply moving, powerfully intimate, and courageous memoir that pulls readers through the trials of familial love, loss, and the emotional complexities of navigating life under the specter of ALS. Mindy’s unflinching honesty as a mother, a wife, and a daughter facing devastating medical realities is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. With clear-eyed reflections on grief, resilience, and the hope for future cures, this memoir offers a poignant journey of personal and generational struggle, beautifully capturing the power of family and self-discovery. “Last Nerve” is a must-read for anyone facing the shadow of illness or loss and is seeking to find strength in the face of it. It is a story of courage and healing that will linger in your heart long after you turn the final page.
-Dr. Paul Sampognaro ,MD, UCSF Department of Neurology
[Mindy’s] book is an outstanding account of one brave family’s experience with familial ALS, a severely incapacitating and life-limiting genetic neurologic condition. Rising to the never-ending challenges of living with ALS while fostering hope that meaningful treatments will be developed are a source of inspiration to anyone dedicated to finding a cure for this devastating disease.
-Dr. Jerome Kurent, MD, MPH, Professor of Neurology and Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina