While she knows she can never escape her chronic illness, there is a sense of optimism and wonderment in her voice over her new beginnings.Īs we ended our conversation I couldn’t help but ask about a new book. I sensed that Hillenbrand has uncovered a range of newfound strengths and is trying to leave her frailty behind. She told me she has made a lot of recent changes in her medical treatments and in her life she has pushed a lot of boundaries such as moving across country to Oregon to be with her boyfriend. In the conversation that followed, she graphically detailed how she was ravaged by the disease and how – after being stricken in 1987 – her symptoms at times were so severe that for two years she was incapacitated and house-ridden. Seabiscuit is the story of a racehorse that captured America’s heart during the Great Depression while Unbroken details the saga of Louis Zamperini, who survived a bomber crash in the Pacific in World War II and spent two and a half years as a prisoner of war.įor the summer issue of Stanford Medicine magazine, a special on well-being, I was curious what the word “well” meant to someone who has been unwell for so long – so I reached out to the author. Seabiscuit and Unbroken captured the imagination of readers and there are more than 13 million copies in print. (She despises the term CFS, as she thinks it portrays those who suffer from it as lazy and contemptible.) Astonishingly, she wrote two great books while enduring vertigo and extreme exhaustion from her illness. Hillenbrand, one of the most successful writers of modern times, has suffered many years from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or, as she likes to refer to it, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis syndrome. She captures moments like getting on a horse to ride again in ways that make you feel like you, too, are riding and feeling the wind in your face. Laura Hillenbrand speaks like she writes: beautifully. Laura hopes you enjoy the podcast and that patients find inspiration and strength.īy Paul Costello, Stanford Medicine Scope Aug(original post Aug 17) Hillenbrand remains steadfast in her commitment to OMF’s End ME / CFS project to find answers to help patients worldwide. Laura Hillenbrand is a friend and strong supporter of OMF and has invited us to share her story. Hillenbrand eloquently shares her passion for life is far from diminished as she talks about how she has dealt with the challenges and adversity of a lengthy chronic disease.

Author Laura Hillenbrand shares her story of “leaving frailty behind” as she copes with nearly three decades as a ME / CFS patient in a podcast with Stanford Medicine’s Scope.

Author of seabiscuit and unbroken