A story of Strength , 

My name is Leslie Geraghty of Wayne, NJ. When I had first met Maureen Taylor, it was September of 2005. Maureen was one of our first customers during our Grand Opening at our Nature Store.
A graceful, well dressed, soft spoken woman. We had spoke on several occassions and I enjoyed our chats. It was my husband who informed me one day of very disturbing news ot this very rare disease that had nearly taken this womans life earlier. As he discribed the hoffics of the physical changes and personal challenges she had faced, I thought for a moment that we must be speaking of 2 different people.When we met again we spoke briefly of the illness. As we spoke it was clear this woman in front of me was the image of strength. hope, and perseverance. Maureen's book goes into some detail of her past as a child in Ireland and the journey here to the US. She goes into great detail of the symptoms that krept up day by day, the numerous Drs visits, tests, and psychological tolls she has encountered. It was frustrating to see the lengths she had to go to, to finally get a proper diagnosis. The relationship between her husband and how his denial and complete unsympathetic being basically turned his back on his wife in need, which finally did end in divorce. This book completely moved me. I could not put this book down. This is a book of hope, determination, and inner strength. Maureen now opens her home to others who suffer the same rare disease and helps them to cope with the up hill battle they face. I admire Maureen for not only the battle she fought but for what she offers to others who suffer medical problems and frustrations.

A true testament to facing life's journey head-on ,

Maureen Taylor describes a journey that any of us may take for different reasons. Her path was scleroderma. This memoir is a painfully truthful personal walk which served to bring hope when there was only despair and the challenge to go further when conventional medicine seemed to offer no more answers. It is intensely gripping yet shows how the human condition can lead one to rise above hopelessness and find answers when it seemed there were none left. Giving up was not an option. This is the one rich lesson Maureen's suffering and successes can teach each of us who have the good fortune to read her story.

A Story of Courage and Perseverance ,

"I found out about Maureen through the Internet and then read her book when it came out. I am always amazed with her knowledge of not only scleroderma, but all the alternative approaches (as well as conventional medicine) she used to assist her in her journey back to health. I also personally liked the fact that she believed in both conventional and alternative approaches for healing as this is consistent with my own view. I am so grateful to her for sharing her experience in A Place To Go. It is easy to see her compassion, honesty, and perseverance- and I believe her attitude and determination ultimately turned her health around.

I, too, was diagnosed with diffuse scleroderma and was told it was progressing very rapidly. Western medicine could only offer me powerful drugs, and, with the exception of my internist, none really believed in the effectiveness of alternative treatments. I chose to try the antibiotic therapy and follow a macrobiotic diet (June-July 2006) in addition to the conventional approach I was already taking. I had been receiving acupuncture, hand and physical therapy and a variety of energy modalities. Within a few weeks of following the macrobiotic diet, I could see a difference in my energy level. Within three months of taking antibiotics, my skin was softening some, the redness and inflammation was decreasing, and I was moving around more easily. It was at this time that I started to decrease conventional medications. It's six months now and my skin is softening more, my energy level is consistent throughout the day and I am finally sleeping through the night most nights. My family and therapists are continually commenting on the improvements. Coincidence (remission due to drugs other than the antibiotics)? I don't think so. I never felt like this on methotrexate (for RA), neurontin, oxycontin (for pain), Ambien, and the small amount of prednisone that I took. These drugs never relieved my severe pain, immobility, or helped me to sleep.

You don't need to have a serious physical illness to benefit from reading A Place to Go. It is an inspiration to anyone going through a grief process or living with/knowing someone who is. This book will be on my recommended reading list for my clients when I get back to work. Thanks to Maureen's own personal triumph-I can envision the day when I will be doing all the things we so often take for granted each day."

A powerful catalyst.... ,

Maureen Taylor has written a gripping,intimate story of dogged determination and discernment that can inspire anyone. Ultimately a triumph of spirit, Maureen's account
explores the spiritual,cultural,environmental,medical, emotional,dietary and energetic realms of disease creation and integrative recovery. Her intelligence, stunning honesty, sheer grit and intuition led to a uniquely personal path of well-being. I found her willingness to explore, test and fine tune while refusing to be limited by myopic regimens of both allopathic and alternative systems, to be liberating. A powerful catalyst, this book can change your life.

An Inspirational Story that should be read by EVERYONE! ,

When I first read this book, I was in awe of Maureen and her strength and courage displayed throughout her battle with Scleroderma. This book is a wonderful display of the power of the human spirit, and the determination of one woman against such a deadly disease. You don't have to have Scleroderma to understand the story or relate to it; you just need an open mind and heart. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is searching for meaning in their lives, those who need strength in times of hardship/pain, and for anyone looking to be inspired by another person. Thank you, Maureen for letting us into your world, and I wish you continued good health!

A Must Read For Scleroderma Patients ,

Maureen Taylor's journey and victory over scleroderma is a must read for all scleroderma patients and for everyone who is suffering from an "incurable" disease. Many scleroderma patients are told that they will never overcome their disease and they are given toxic medications to suppress their immune systems. Maureen was diagnosed at a very late stage in her disease and she was given a poor prognosis. This book explains the steps she took to get well and she has now been scleroderma free for many years. Please, if you know someone who is suffering from this horrible disease or any other disease with a poor prognosis, encourage them to read this book. There is hope for these patients, even if doctors are saying that there isn't. The doctors told Maureen that she would die from the disease, but she made it back to full good health. Her story is inspiring and real. God bless her for sharing her story so that others may get well.

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An inspiring story of tremendous courage ,

Maureen Taylor's story is one of incredible courage and will, fascinating open-mindedness to alternative therapies, and a traditional Western doctor who tolerated and did not discourage her explorations into them. When Maureen reached the absolute bottom and was convinced she was dying from scleroderma, she found the courage to begin to take very difficult, painful baby steps to bring herself back to life. She demonstrated amazing persistence as she tried various therapies, some showing little improvement for many months, but she stuck with them if she felt they were helping or would help in the future and, eventually, they did. Others she quickly rejected if it was clear they were not for her. What the story said to me is that a patient with a "progressive, incurable" disease needs to try anything they can to take control of their recovery, often using many modalities at the same time, trusting their instincts and keeping at it. Of course, it may not work for everyone, but I think the peace she found within herself along the way would have been there even if she had not recovered as fully as she did and I think that is what others should take away from this story.

A "How To" book when you're fighting for your life ,

When I first met Maureen Taylor, she sold real estate in the town in New Jersey where I had just moved. We might have smiled at each other on the grocery check out line, or said good morning while walking around the lake, but that was all. I do remember noticing some of the drastic changes taking place in her facial features over the years, but caught up in my own little world, I paid scant attention to her and had no idea she was going through such personal and physical agony. Now, years later, after I read her book, I'm inspired to realize what an exceptional person she is.
Maureen's battle with a deadly, disfiguring disease is a true story of hope and perseverance. This book details her struggle in all its complexity-- trials, errors, and ultimately success. Her account of this most difficult period of her life will aid and comfort anyone confronting a serious health crisis. Although she had years of nursing experience, I think it was her willingness to try anything, no matter how difficult or weird-sounding, that made the difference in her recovery. A PLACE TO GO proves that when totally focused and working together, the human body and human spirit are able to meet any challenge. Maureen Taylor is indeed a beautiful woman, outside and in.