Susan Spencer-Wendel with Bret Witter

Susan Spencer-Wendel (1966-2014) was an American journalist and author best known for her memoir "Until I Say Good-Bye: My Year of Living with Joy," which chronicled her experiences living with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). As a veteran court reporter for the Palm Beach Post in Florida, Spencer-Wendel covered major legal cases for two decades before being diagnosed with ALS in 2011. She earned multiple awards for her journalism work throughout her career. Following her diagnosis, she collaborated with co-author Bret Witter to write her memoir while rapidly losing motor function. The book was written primarily using her right thumb on an iPhone, as her condition had progressed to severely limit her mobility. Her memoir became a New York Times bestseller and was translated into multiple languages. The book detailed her final adventures with family and friends as she made conscious choices to focus on joyful experiences rather than her terminal diagnosis.

Readers praise Spencer-Wendel's raw honesty and humor in documenting her experience with ALS in "Until I Say Good-Bye." Many reviews note her grace and determination in choosing joy despite terminal illness. Reviewers highlight: - Clear, straightforward writing style - Balance of difficult moments with uplifting ones - Personal insights about family relationships - Practical perspective on living with disability Common criticisms: - Structure feels disjointed at times - Some passages move too quickly through significant events - Co-writer's voice occasionally overshadows the author's Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) Multiple readers called the book "inspiring without being preachy." Several noted it helped them process their own family's experiences with ALS. A minority of reviews found the positive tone unrealistic, with one reader commenting "it glosses over the true darkness of the disease."

Until I Say Good-Bye: My Year of Living with Joy (2013) A memoir chronicling Spencer-Wendel's final year of travel and memorable experiences with loved ones after her ALS diagnosis, written using only her iPhone as her physical condition declined.

Cheryl Strayed writes raw memoirs about personal struggle and transformation through adversity. Her work "Wild" chronicles her solo hiking journey while processing grief and life changes, similar to Spencer-Wendel's focus on finding meaning in difficult circumstances.

Paul Kalanithi wrote "When Breath Becomes Air" as a neurosurgeon facing terminal cancer, documenting his shift from doctor to patient. His memoir captures the immediacy of living while dying, exploring mortality with both medical and personal insights.

Jean-Dominique Bauby dictated "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" through blinking after suffering locked-in syndrome. His memoir shares the experience of writing while physically limited, paralleling Spencer-Wendel's journey of creating through physical constraints.

Randy Pausch wrote "The Last Lecture" while facing pancreatic cancer, focusing on achieving childhood dreams and leaving a legacy. His work combines personal stories with life lessons, emphasizing living fully despite terminal illness.

Christina Crosby examines life-altering disability in "A Body, Undone" after a bicycle accident left her paralyzed. Her memoir explores the physical and emotional adaptation to sudden bodily changes, offering perspectives on disability and identity.