REVIEW OF “BEYOND MY CONTROL”
RATED 
Stuart Ross McCallum shares a true account of his battle with epilepsy - beginning with the peculiar sensations he experienced as a teenager that led to his diagnosis and concluding with his eventual recovery from a temporal lobectomy.
McCallum vividly describes his twenty-year journey of living with epilepsy and how this unpredictable disease has not only impacted his life but the lives of everyone around him.
Beyond my Control is an inspirational book for the millions of people who suffer from this insidious condition, and family and friends who are directly affected.
Beyond my Control provides an honest, emotional look into a highly complex and often misunderstood condition and how one man's perseverance helped him break through the darkness to find hope on the other side.
A powerful (true story) of hope and courage, for anyone struggling.
Photo taken with Ross in front of Melbourne Art CentreHi Ross,
The minute I got your book "Beyond My Control" it was truly beyond my own control to put the book down. I was glued to your book. Your book tells of confusion, bitterness, humour, life risking decisions, family's care and love for you, especially your wife, Lisa, and made a poignant point to readers that life is still beautiful with epilepsy. Life does not end with epilepsy. Having epilepsy is not a life sentence. There is always hope, and we should never give up on our hopes, even if we have braved through countless stormy and turbulent years in our lives. With an unceasing zest to conquer and defeat the invisible enemy inside us, we will excel in our lives beautifully and meaningfully.
"Beyond My Control" is definitely a "Must Have" and a"Must Read" book. Ross, thank you so much for sharing your meaningful and inspiring story with the world. You have successfully triumphed over epilepsy. You are a great living testimony of how a remarkably troubled epileptic life has been transformed into a sweet, serene, and beautiful life.
Warmest Regards,
Serene Low
A person with epilepsy and an epilepsy activist
"" I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet up with Ross on 19th of May 2009 in Melbourne. Ross has a warm, bubbly, charming, pleasant, courteous and humorous personality. Talking to Ross for the first time was like talking to my good old pal. We had a great time of sharing and exchanging of our epilepsy stories. If you are struggling with epilepsy or you are someone who likes to have a good read in an hour’s time, I encourage you to visit www.beyondmycontrol.net for more information regarding Beyond My Control””.
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Your post was truly uplifting to me. I will have to get that book. It is a must read on my list. Thank you for sharing this with me.
ReplyDeleteHi Ted,
ReplyDeleteI am extremely happy to hear from you. I visited your blog and found out that your daughter has epilepsy too. My heart goes out to her cos she is still so young but I know your wife and you are the greatest caregiver around. That means everything to your girl.
Yes, Beyond My Control is truly a very inspiring book to read. I am certain you will enjoy reading this book.
Happy reading Ted and pass the book around for others to read when you have finished reading it. It is always good to be able to share something that is good and meaningful with others.
God bless your family and you.
Sincerely,
Serene
Hi Serene,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful message. Your message has brighten my day.
I am looking forward to reading the book. Your idea about passing the book around is a brilliant one.
I have to agree with you that an individual with epilepsy can have a beautiful life.
My wife and I strive for the best for Sarah who has complex partial seizure. She is very active in doing gymnastic, lacrosse, ice skating and basketball. She continues to thrive at school. As of this moment, she is now learning to bike as I took the training wheels off. She is making me NERVOUS !!!
Thank you so much for sharing your insights with me. I look forward to reading your blog as I will need support. It is so inspiring and very uplifting to me.
I am so optimistic that future treatment will make significant improvement for the people with epilepsy.
With regards,
Ted
Hi Ted,
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. I will be around whenever you need support. The beauty of epilepsy is knowing that I have it and with the years of seizures I have had, it provided me the opportunities to reach out to people who are in the same predicament as me. I am able to comprehend most aspects of their epileptic lives.
I know how nervous you can be over Sarah's epileptic condition as well as her learning to cycle a bike. It really means you love her very much as well as your family members. You have two lovely and wonderful girls.
Oh, yes, I fully agree with you that epilepsy treatment will keep progressing with time and hopefully, soon enough, Sarah's epilepsy will be cured.
Wishing you and your family good health always.
Sincerely,
Serene
Serene,
ReplyDeleteIt was the most beautiful comment you have wrote to me. You are truly a wonderful source of inspiration to me and my family. I am grateful for your beautiful note.
You are truly a beacon of hope to me. You have shine the light onto me and my family. I will definitely keep in touch with you for wonderful support in the years to come.
As a matter of fact, I have met a wonderful woman at the Epilepsy Foundation in Philadelphia yesterday. She also has epilepsy. I was telling her that my passion is running (smile). I have mentioned to her that I am very interested in raising money for Epilepsy Foundation by doing what I love the most - running. It is in the work right now as I am learning how to set up fundraising to help people with epilepsy. My heart goes out to every single individual with epilepsy and to find better treatment and cure. With all due respect, your support and your blog is very instrumental to me.
Thank you so much for your support and hope , someday, my daughter will meet you.
With regards,
Ted
Hi Ted,
ReplyDelete"Someday, my daughter will meet you". Oh wow! I look forward to that day. I also have an Indonesian follower of my blog who keeps in close touch with me via my blog. He had invited me to visit him whenever I can. His 11 year old son has epilepsy and he regarded me as part of his family. He calls me sister Serene.
I am harvesting the sweet fruits of my crop. I ploughed and sowed and the harvest is plentiful. I am extremely taken by your sincerity in regarding me as a beacon of hope. God first loved us so that we will also love our neighbours. To love is to share and care for each other unconditionally.
A friend of mine who lives in Melbourne will be taking part in a running fundraising event sometime end of this month. She told me she had wanted to run to aid epileptic people. I told her to raise funds for Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria and she agreed. She loves running as well and runs every morning for an hour before going to work.
It is not in how many long years I will get to live but it is how many meaningful years I will get to live that sums up a beautiful life.
I earnestly hope your fundraising attempt to aid people with epilepsy will turn out to be a great success. Thank you so much for trying and working hard to make a positive difference in the lives of PWE.
On behalf of people with epilepsy (PWE) everywhere, I thank you once again for walking along with us in our epileptic journeys. God bless you and your family. May goodness and mercy follow you in all the days of your life.
Sincerely,
Serene