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Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2010 // Leave a Comment

It’s announced! * Jan. 29th 2011 *
Save the date to watch CNN’s early-onset Alzheimer’s documentary “Filling The Blank.”

Click here (right side-“On the next episode” of World’s Untold Stories) to view a beautiful picture of Colombia, where many families are active participants in an early-onset Alzheimer’s research study and doctors are committed to finding treatment or a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. My extended family and I were interviewed as part of this documentary.

Additionally, there are only 11 days left to preorder The Gene Guillotine on kickstarter.

Despite being on family vacation, I have continued to prepare for the publication of this book . My family has continued to support my efforts and for that, I am grateful. Now, I leave the computer and join them for a bonfire.

I hope you have a safe and happy new year.

Filed Under: Status Updates // Tagged: , , ,

105% and First Publicity!

Posted on December 21, 2010 // 2 Comments

Yippee! Jeanne was the Kickstarter backer who put this project over 100% and 6 more people have backed since then. I think I am still in shock. It hasn’t really sunk in. Thank you everyone! You can support and preorder The Gene Guillotine at Kickstarter.com

I was buying groceries at Safeway when Andy checked his blackberry and said, “100%.”
I stopped swiping my credit card mid-swipe and said, “No way?!? Already?”
He showed me the page.
My eyes popped, “Really?”
“I told you people believe in this project.”

I promptly dialed my siblings to tell them the news. Then celebrated with two family members over a hot mug of Candy Cane tea and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

Shelly Pike from North Country Public Radio posted a blog that mentions this book. Thank you Shelly! North Country Public Radio is located in Canton, New York where Shelly and I met at St. Lawrence University. This is the first publicity on my book!
http://blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org/allin/2010/12/20/kates-family-story-early-onset-alzheimers/

Filed Under: Status Updates // Tagged: , , ,

77%

Posted on December 19, 2010 // 2 Comments

The Gene Guillotine is 77% funded on Kickstarter, only 2 weeks into this project and 23 days to go!

This is totally amazing. Thank you everyone for backing me!

News

Late last night the front page of the New York Times featured an article titled “Early Tests for Alzheimer’s Pose Diagnosis Dilemma.” The title of the article now appears to be “Tests Detect Alzheimer’s Risks, but Should Patients Be Told?” The comment I submitted to NYT regarding that article is #45.

My goal is to connect with others who are impacted by Alzheimer’s or a genetic disease.

Excitement & Fear

All the excitement is true,
And I’m also fragile.
Hope is heavy and fear creeps up.
This fear-excitement edge.
What am I doing being so open? Even if this seems to be my mission in life,
I don’t have to choose it. I could do anything else.

I hibernate, a mini one… an ostrich’s head buried in the sand, while my body (my website and kickstarter) are prominent displays of my book. I have heard that excitement and fear have the same physical manifestations.

I hesitate to reveal this–I’m supposed to be professional now, showing only confidence and courage.
My crying eyes must be from my “excitement” right? Another tear, another excitement?

Will you feel when you read my book? It’s my story, loaded with my past and triggers instant tears in me, but will it matter to you? It”s the cost-benefit analysis that has no easy answers. Is this ‘stripping’ worth it?

Tenderly, I hold my heart and head, as I continue onward, taking the next most logical step.

I’m honored to have your support.

Want to do more? Here are ways you can support this book:
*Go to kickstarter and become a backer of my project.
*Sign-up for updates on my website.
*Forward this as an email to everyone in your address book.
*Add links on your facebook or twitter account to my website and my kickstarter webpage.
* Watch the CNN 2011 documentary on Alzheimer’s disease. (Date to be determined.)

Filed Under: Status Updates // Tagged: , , , , ,