Nancer the Dancer beats crippling disease

Nancer the Dancer: myosititis and me
Memoir
Judith Gwinn Adrian

HENSCHELhaus publisher
March 2020

$9.98 eBook
$16.95 paperback
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About the Book:

The inspired 1960’s phantasmagoria called Nancy’s name. She smiled and joined. Why not? She was part of the summers of love, and the winters; dancing the light fantastic.

Unique to Nancy’s story, however, is that she took this youthful swashbuckler chutzpah and used it to confront her dermatomyositis; the rare crippling autoimmune disease that attacked her skeletal muscles, her being AND her physical beauty. Evil trio.

Nancy believed that there are many ways to be crippled and some of them are physical. She focused her energy on “attitude.”

It took her twenty years to squelch Reuben (the name she gave the disease to separate it from who she was). In final measure the only way to slay Reuben was for Nancy to die. By dying, she beat him – turned him to ash.

Toward the end, she wrote: “Let’s get one thing straight – if I never go anywhere or do anything else again in my life, I suspect I’ve had one of the best times of anyone I know.  It’s been mostly fun and I’ve had entertaining company. I got to cherish the fat arms of the babies, the silly laughter between friends, spontaneity, respect, comfy laps and the touch of his hand.”

About the Author:

After retiring from twenty-five years of college teaching, I am currently mid-stride, co-writing biographies with two Milwaukee men. The processes are captivating as I learn about their Puerto Rican cultures, life experiences, and success stories. I am proud to have three published books: Because I Am Jackie Millar (2007 & 2010), In Warm Blood: Prison & Privilege, Hurt & Heart (2014), and Tera’s Tale: Rebel on the River (2019). Book #4, Nancer the Dancer: Myositis and Me, will be published in early 2020.

Web: Judithadrian.com

**Adrian, Judith Gwinn (March 2020) Nancer the Dancer: Myositis and Me. Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS. (Chronic illness)

**Adrian, Judith Gwinn (February 1, 2019) Tera’s Tale Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS (March 2019 Finalist, Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Metal)  (Hoarding and mental health)

**Adrian, Judith Gwinn & DarRen Morris (2014). In Warm Blood: Prison & Privilege, Hurt & Heart. Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS. (USA BOOK AWARDS: 2015 finalist in non-fiction Multi-cultural and True Crime categories) (Incarceration and abuse)

**Millar, Jackie & Judith Gwinn Adrian (2007 & 2010). Because I Am Jackie Millar. Los Angeles: Golden: The Press. (Forgiveness and restorative justice)

**Colon, Hector & Judith Gwinn Adrian, “From the Boxing Ring to the Boardroom” (working title) (Summer, 2020) Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS. (Personal courage and success)

Reviewed by:  Jan Jenson (Janet Kay) www.novelsbyjanetkay.com

It’s all about attitude – equal amounts of optimism and realistic expectations.

That was Nancy Gwinn Dell Nee’s mantra and her secret to successfully coping, later in life, with chronic illness, disability, and eventually a premature death. 

A free spirit with an adventurous streak, her journey in life began as a rebellious wild child of the 1960s. Nancer the Dancer, as she was affectionately called by all who knew and loved her, knew how to dance, how to have fun, how to play pranks and break all the rules. Her love of life and sense of humor were infectious.  

Throughout her life, she maintained a close, loving relationship with her sister, Judith Gwinn Adrian, the author of this personal biography. The sisters shared everything – the highs, the lows, the everyday moments of their lives. Together, they struggled and supported each other through Nancy’s ordeal with the ravaging disease of myositis. Much of this is documented through their letters, emails, and Nancy’s spontaneous journal entries which are shared in this book.

Nancer The Dancer is a heart-warming, yet heart-wrenching story that draws the reader into another world, opening our hearts to those who struggle with chronic illness. Written through Nancy’s eyes by her beloved sister, this is a must read – especially for those suffering with chronic illness, and for their loved ones.

One of Nancy’s favorite quotes, a Chinese proverb, sums it up: “You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.”

You can’t help but love Nancy the Dancer. May her spirit live on through the pages of this loving tribute written by her beloved sister.

Author Jan Jenson writes from northern Wisconsin. Her books include Waters of the Dancing Sky; Amelia, 1868; and Sisters.