Last Nerve

A Memoir of Illness and the Endurance of Family

Non-Fiction - Memoir
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 05/21/2025
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Last Nerve by Mindy Uhrlaub chronicles her deeply personal experiences navigating health crises, family challenges, and the emotional toll of caregiving. After being diagnosed with an ALS gene mutation in 2018, Uhrlaub faces the possibility of inheriting ALS, a disease that has already affected her mother, Nanee. As she manages her health, she is also caring for her husband, Kirk, who is battling aggressive lymphoma. Their son Ethan struggles with behavioral and emotional issues, exacerbating the family’s stress. Amid these challenges, Uhrlaub reflects on her childhood in Highland Park, Illinois, and the complicated dynamics within her family. Through caregiving for her ailing mother and her own health struggles, Uhrlaub navigates moments of personal growth, grappling with the weight of her familial roles. Her memoir intertwines personal resilience, complex family dynamics, and her commitment to ALS research.

Last Nerve: A Memoir of Illness and the Endurance of Family by Mindy Uhrlaub presents an intimate and poignant portrait of a family navigating a cascade of hardships, including her own genetic risk for ALS, her husband Kirk’s battle with cancer, and the emotional turmoil surrounding their sons, Ethan and Alex. The writing is deeply reflective, balancing raw emotion with a keen sense of family dynamics under stress. Uhrlaub's exploration of caregiving, particularly for her mother, Nanee, as she succumbs to ALS, resonates with authenticity and tenderness. The conversational narrative takes us into complicated familial relationships, especially as Uhrlaub contends with both her roles as a wife and mother, all while facing an uncertain future. Despite the heavy themes, Uhrlaub’s style is comfortable. As far as memoirs go, this one is marked by its depth, moments of hope, and a commitment to understanding and confronting illness. Recommended.