I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL to my husband and daughter, who together bore the burden of responsibility for keeping me sane while I wrote this book. Bergen has been my sounding board, in-house editor, computer whiz, administrative assistant, bread baker, biggest fan, and best friend—with “benefits.” Naomi has been my inspiration, memory bank, compassion guide, in-house masseuse, vegetarian cook, and loyal listener.
I am also grateful to my mother and father for their constant love and support and to my sister and brother for their love, compassion, and friendship.
A world of thanks to friends, family, and neighbors who played starring roles in my dramatic decline and comeback: Lisa Kelner, Ruth Tal, Bonnie Beecher, Hildi Weiman, Gloria Macarenko, Diana Kjaer-Pedersen, Brian and Gillian Campbell, Joey Mallett, Betina Albornoz, Linda Low, Teresa Goff, Terrye Kuper, Simca Kuper, Marg Meikle and Noel MacDonald, Christine Dolling and John Kilburn, Helen and Will Rosebush, Mahima Mathur and Amitava Chattopadhyay, Corry Hunter, Yvonne Gall, Sheila Peacock, Sue Black, Cheryl Dundas, Susie Seidner-Katz, Cicely Bryce, Lourdes Davenport, my e-mail update group, the men’s cooking club, and the women’s no cooking club. And to the special women no longer with us who loved life and continue to inspire me: Zoë, Chantal Jolly, and Dawn Jones.
I would also like to thank my health care community: Adrienne Mahaffey, Dr. Elliot Mintz, Dr. Penny Smyth, Dr. A. Jon Stoessl, Dr. Allan Young, Dr. Chung, Dr. Mona Mazgani, Jessica Whidden, Dr. Hagen Kennecke, Dr. Caroline Lohrisch, Carl Petersen, Peggy Spears, and Nora Soriano.
And finally, heartfelt gratitude to Rob Sanders for inviting me to submit a book proposal based on a collection of my quirky e-mail health updates he received from a mutual friend, and to my radiant editor, Nancy Flight, for her enthusiasm, sensitivity, and support.