Book Review: Mother’s Stone (2013)

The end times and extraordinary life of Phyllis Joy
by Brian Wright (reviewed by the author)

Mothers_StoneThe idea of this book stems from a series of columns I wrote as a diary of my mother’s ‘end times.’ She was victim to a genetic illness known as polycystic kidney disease (PKD). As a patient she traversed the modern medical bloodletting system, availing herself of the best technology health insurance covers… and survived it in style for three-plus glorious years. Moreover, the universal meaning of her life ‘as a whole’ transcends the short period of her end times and is what I have aimed to capture as a message from the sages: health lessons learned and freedom lessons shared.

I originally speculated that Mother’s Stone might serve as a focal point of national and international (and non-national) discussion on how to achieve ‘better outcomes’ in medicine—at least kidney surrogate technology. I feel the diaries of Part I do a fair job of showing how the system works (and doesn’t work) today. It’s not all bad and we can do a whole lot better. But in “Part II: The Life” I take off the gloves: the restoration/reconstruction of such a marvelous life as my mom’s offers not only inspiration but a healing balm. Continue reading

Brian’s Column: Omamacare II

Henry Ford
“Hey, this is the only mom I got!”
by Brian Wright


[Omamacare i]
Background

Phyllis Wright, aka Mom (84), has been undergoing hemodialysis at a facility associated with St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, Michigan, since roughly October 2009. It’s a treatment for latent polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which runs in our family—my mom’s mother had it, too, and (without dialysis) lived to be 92. Mom is covered by Health Alliance Plan, which is a PPO associated with Henry Ford Healthcare System, whose physicians and personnel are paid by the plan for Mom’s medical treatment. Continue reading