Former Bahraini resident of 10 years and patient ofAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a motor neuron disease that causes loss of muscle
control - Lana Murad Bataineh, announced today the publication of her memoir titled Choosing Love, with international publisher, Austin Macauley.
When Lana was diagnosed sixteen years ago, she was told by several doctors that she had two to five years to live. They informed her that she would lose the ability to move any muscle in her body but that her brain would stay intact throughout. A decade and a half later, she has attended all three of her children’s graduations, danced at her son’s wedding and witnessed the birth of her first grandchild. Today, yet another milestone is
met as she announces the publication of her memoir with Austin Macauley.
Choosing Love takes the reader on Lana’s journey of how she overcame seemingly enormous obstacles of living with ALS and finding her inner strength through the power of Love. Her story serves as an example to everyone going through hardship of any kind, that love holds the transformative power to alter the situation - one just has to choose it.
The book is based on Lana’s blog Loofy Online - “Loofy” being her endearing nickname dubbed by her sons - which she started in 2016 as a platform to share her thoughts. Shortly after, the blog gained international traction with tens of thousands of people reading her blog posts and getting inspired by her messages. The blog-turned-book was fully typed on an eye-tracking technology device called the Eye-gaze. By looking at the letters on a digital keyboard, Lana’s words are captured by a laser pointing at her eye and translated into words on a screen. Lana uses this device to communicate with her beloved family, friends, caregivers and fans.
Lana Murad Bataineh, author, comments: “Life is full of extraordinary moments that we must learn to treasure and appreciate. God let me live. He gave me an extension of my lease, for which I am eternally grateful, and so I feel obliged to make the most of it.”
She continues: “Through Choosing Love, I hope people can witness firsthand that happiness is possible for anyone who chooses to look for it in the right places.”
A percentage of the book proceeds will be dedicated to ALS charities that support patients and their families and to fund research in finding a cure. More details to be announced soon.
The book is available in both paperback and eBook formats and can be purchased by visiting www.austinmacauley.ae/books/choosing-love/
It is also available on Amazon worldwide, Jamalon, Neel wa Furat, Sanad Books and selected bookstores near you.
To keep up with Lana’s updates, follow her on:
● Her blog page, Loofy Online: www.loofyonline.wordpress.com
● Instagram: @Instaloofy
For more information or to get in touch for interviews please contact:
- Karim Bataineh on kbataineh23@gmail.com
- Reem El Tal on reemtal@gmail.com preprocess
