Good for Terry Pratchett

[tree_and_leaf]

I intend to scream and harangue while there is time.

Comments

[white_hart]

He was interviewed on the Today programme this morning (about ten to eight if you want to listen again). It had me in tears, although I was pleased to hear that he sent the latest book to the publishers last night.

[tree_and_leaf]

I'll try and get it later, though my connection is a bit ropey just now... thanks for the heads up.

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I think I heard that as well. Very sad - and food for thought as well.

[tree_and_leaf]

I went and listened to it - tremendously sad, but I admire him for the way he seems to be dealing with it. I could have kicked the interviewer, though, who said something like 'You say the disease strips away your living self, bit by bit... that's a strong phrase' To which Pratchett responded, 'That's what it does.'

[intertext.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful. I wish I had half a million pounds to be able to give away...(that's one reason I've always wished I were rich)

[tree_and_leaf]

Yes, it's one great advantage to being rich - you can do things with it (but the fandom matching funding idea is quite a good one, too.)

[sacred-sarcasm.livejournal.com]

Good for him; it raises rather wider questions about fashionable (for want of a better word) diseases and those we'd rather not think about. I don't think we should get into disease ratings, but if I were forced to pick, I'd rather have cancer than alzheimer's - and that's before we even consider the recovery rates.

[tree_and_leaf]

I'm full of admiration for him (touching that his speech drew attention to spouses, too - I don't know whether I'm sorrier for him or for his wife).

And yes, despite your caveat, I'd pick cancer too, every time. I've always been terrified of diseases that destroy memory and personality. At least cancer doesn't stop you being you long before it kills you, and I think Alzheimer's is crueller for the relatives and friends.