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 My blog is located at:

www.debbiebutton.wordpress.com 

"Living outside the bubble"

A mom of a son with  spinal muscular atrophy discusses how she supported her son's self-advocacy and encourages other caregivers to help their loved ones "live outside the bubble."  (Quest magazine, fall 2011 issue)

To read more:

http://quest.mda.org/article/living-outside-bubble

• MDA/ALS Newsmagazine:  Eat, Drink and Be Healthy is the Motto in ALS
  March/April 2011 Issue

  People affected by ALS tend to lose weight and can become malnourished, not only because food and drink may be hard to swallow, but also because they burn more calories than unaffected people and their intestines may be less efficient at extracting nutrients from food.

   Two recipes from my cookbook, "I Can Eat That!", were included in this article.  To see the recipes, go to  http://alsn.mda.org/article/eat-drink-and-be-healthy-motto-als

   Recipes included were for Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake and Chicken and Dressing Casserole.

"I Can Eat That!" - Cookbook for Easy Chewing and Swallowing

The mother of a man with SMA seeks to inspire others to modify favorite recipes to accommodate a loved one's eating difficulties ---    Debbie Button's cookbook I Can Eat That! contains 250 recipes for common, everyday meals that are easy to chew and swallow.  Have you ever considered whether you eat to live or live to eat?  (Quest magazine, Winter 2011 online issue, Vol. 18, No. 1) - Article written by Debbie Button

...My late son Joe, who had spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA), had chewing and swallowing difficulties that caused mealtime to be more of an aggravation than a joy for him. The desire for Joe to take pleasure in our family meals was the beginning of my pursuit to alter recipes and find ways to make mealtime a little more exciting for him...

To read more: 

 http://quest.mda.org/article/i-can-eat-cookbook-easy-chewing-and-swallowing

"One Giggle at a Time"

Cookbook:

"I Can Eat That!"

Did you know most people swallow an average of 580 times a day?  For many with health issues, trouble with swallowing (dysphagia) can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, pneumonia, anxiety, depression, and isolation.  Dysphagia affects 30-40% of those affected by Multiple Sclerosis, as well as 40-50% of patients in nursing homes, 13-14% of all hospitalized patients and nearly 33% of the patients in rehabilitation centers.

Can you imagine lying down and attempting to chew and swallow and enjoy food?  You quickly become familiar with what you can and cannot chew and swallow.  This is far from an ideal situation but it is an everyday hurdle for countless people.  Preparation of meals can be a very complex issue.

Being mother, caregiver and cook for nearly 25 years for two sons with chewing and swallowing issues, I Can Eat That! offers a 250-recipe solution  to the question, "What can I eat?"

Purchase Now

In addition to being a wife and mother, I have been a full-time caregiver for family members enduring life-threatening illnesses.  Several of these loved ones have passed on to be with God and I am now opening the door to new journeys.  The road may be winding and difficult to navigate at times but I look forward to the rewarding possibilities along the way.

I've posted some of my writing to share with you.  Hopefully, you will be encouraged and uplifted.  Enjoy!

Joseph Button

I am creating a "gallery" of sorts to highlight and remember the works of my youngest son, Joe.

I hope you enjoy seeing and reading his work.

More about him will be added on a regular basis.