Standing Tall: Living with Motor Neurone Disease (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781068766541)

Inspiring, and life-affirming, these poems take nothing for granted; Samantha Whittaker relishes the world around her and takes in its many magical gifts. Filled with grace and a great sense of awe, these poems are uplifting.

Jackie Kay

Samantha Whittaker, or Sam as she is known to her friends and family, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2023. MND is a terminal condition, and as yet, there is no cure for this disease. Sam has a form of MND called bulbar onset which mainly affects the muscles of the face, throat and tongue. She is unable to speak or swallow and communicates through writing.

Following her diagnosis Sam started writing poetry and this collection of her poems reflects the emotional rollercoaster journey she has been through and reveals the intense challenges that she has experienced. Sam was generously given the opportunity by the MND Association to participate in art therapy sessions with the art therapist Adam Levene, which she found to be hugely beneficial. Art therapy is used as a medium to address emotional issues which can be very confusing and distressing for the sufferer and their loved ones. She attended these sessions with her husband and two daughters and the family benefitted enormously from participating in art therapy sessions.

The first part of this book includes an introduction by Sam together with 16 of her poems. In the second part the reader will find a series of images that were produced by Sam and her family in their art therapy sessions with Adam. These images created by Sam and her family reflect their innermost thoughts and feelings and complement the poems in this book.

All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the charity the MND Association.

Sam shares her vision of the world, the meaning of love and her strength in living with Motor Neurone Disease. MND is a cowardly condition, it wounds and attacks, daily, but kills slowly. What shines through these poems is how Sam is loved and loves. It is a privilege to endorse this book.

Jess Phillips MP