NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Garden District Book Shop is thrilled to announce that it will hold a festive, mini block party on May 11 to celebrate the release of Steve Gleason and Jeff Duncan’s new book “A Life Impossible – Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom in a Fragile Existence.”
In 2011, three years after leaving the NFL, Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal disease that takes away the ability to move, talk, and breathe. Doctors gave him three years to live. He was thirty-three years old. As Steve says, he is now ten years past his expiration date. “A Life Impossible” is a powerful, inspiring memoir of love, heartbreak, resilience, family and remarkable triumph in the face of ALS.
His memoir is the chronicle of a remarkable life, one filled with optimism and joy, despite the trauma and pain and despair he has experienced. Writing using eye-tracking technology, Gleason covers his pre-ALS life through the highs and lows of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, where he made one of the most memorable plays in Saints history, leading to a victory in the first post-Katrina home game, uplifting the city, making him a hero, and reflected in a nine-foot bronze statue outside the Superdome. Then came his heartbreaking diagnosis. Gleason lost all muscle function, he now uses Stephen Hawking-like technology to communicate, and breathes with the help of a ventilator. This book captures Gleason and his wife Michel’s unmatched resilience as they reinvent their lives, refuse to succumb to despair, and face his disease realistically and existentially.
The party will kick off at 11:00 a.m. and at 11:30 Steve will read an excerpt from his book. Following the reading, Steve and Jeff will be available for photos. There will also be crafts, Hansen’s snowballs, a special guest (or two), a bouncy house, face painting and more. The Chicory House will be running a special kid friendly menu during the event as well. The block party is hosted by The Garden District Book Shop, Judy’s at The Rink, Maisonette, Pamela Dennis, The Chicory House and Liam John.
Entry to the event is free and open to the public but the shop encourages interested parties to RSVP to ensure entry and reserve a copy of the book on Eventbrite as space is limited. Additional copies will be available to purchase.
