More info on the Umphress story

[Guest guest]

Borrowed from the Lyme newsgroup

Subject: Original article on Twice an Angel

From: mhhirsch@... (MHHirsch)

Date: 09 Apr 2000 15:57:15 GMT

Here is the entire article as it was originally published in the Kenton

(OH)

Times.

It gives a more complete, and better, picture of the Umphress family.

They are very sweet people and have done a heroic job in writing this book.

At the end, I have put the information on how to order the book. I will

do

a " Georgia " and put a quote at the top here.

Ann

" The book means much more than the following of one young womans

fight against Lyme disease, said , it also teaches Christian

compassion.

The book also sends a message. to the medical community, said s father.

Jon. "

<<Twice an Angel

Mother pays tribute to daughter in book

By DAN ROBINSON

Times correspondent -Kenton Times, Kenton, OH

April 1, 2000

ADA --- Soon after Umphress graduated from Ada High School in 1994 she

asked her mother to make her a promise..

had battled Lyme disease for nearly six years and was in the final

days

of her life when she asked her mom to share her story by writing a book.

It was the only time I told her no. recalled.

Just the thoughts of reliving the roller-coaster of emotions the family

had

endured seemed too painful, she said.

wanted me to write her story to help other people face their

problems, said. but I didnt think I could do it.

Within a few months of their conversation about the book, died.

was emotionally crushed, she said. She and her daughter had been

exceptionally

close all of s life, but during the years of s illness,

was constantly by her side.

The bond between them had gone beyond a mother-daughter relationship.

had become one of s closest friends.

I definitely felt that way. she said smiling. It was like we were

hooked at the hip.

For several weeks after her death, found herself taking late night

walks and thinking about her daughters wish.

After died, it just kept gnawing at me, she said. Finally. one

night I just did It. I went to her room and started writing everything. I

was

up until 4 a.m. There were more than 350 pages. Then I just put It away.

But the struggle and the strength of Umphress was not to stay tucked

away from the public. This week, fulfilled the wishes of her daughter

with the arrival of Twice an Angel. The Umphress Story.

The book was co-authored by Marilyn , who lives In Celina. I just

handed everything over to her, said . The family members have not yet

read the finished book.

It Is really tough for us, said.

In fact, many people thought the process of putting the experience down in

words would be therapeutic for the Umphresses. They were wrong. said .

" When the books arrived here last Saturday. It hit me like a bull-dozer.

she said. " This has never been a relief. It never helped. Im doing this

because It Is something wanted me to do.

As interviewed people for the book, many people who knew

referred to her as an angel. The title refers to the angel was on

earth

and the angel she became, said .

The book means much more than the following of one young womans fight

against Lyme disease, said , it also teaches Christian compassion. The

book also sends a message. to the medical community, said s father.

Jon.

People need to know that doctors are not to be put on a pedestal, he

said. People think doctors are never wrong. I certainly did that in the

beginning. but I dont anymore. "

For many months alter their daughter was bitten by the disease-carrying

tick,the Umphresses struggled with many area doctors who were unable to

determine what was causing s problems. They diagnosed her with

everything from viruses to psychological problems.

Too many times women are labeled to have psychological problems, agreed

. was fifteen years old and everything was going great when this

happened.

said it was bad enough being sick. but it was worse when you have to

constantly prove it, recalled Jon.

Every parent knows their child, continued . Nobody knows their

kid better than a parent. Doctors need to listen more to the parents.

Because the disease went untreated for so long, s occasional

recoveries were short lived and her recovery chances diminished. She died

at

the age of 21. There still is no foolproof way of diagnosing Lyme disease

But there was to be no bitterness about the lost time in s book, said

.

I didnt want an angry, hateful book, she said. I dont think

there is anything worse than losing a child.

The hurt never goes away, said Jon. There is not a day goes by I

dont think of ten or fifteen times. Little things just bring

everything back. God gives us the grace to get through it, but he doesnt

make it easy.

After something like this, people either get bitter or they get better,

said . Being angry doesnt change anything.

The family was determined to get better.

A part of the familys recovery came in 1998 when the Umphresses adopted a

10 year-old girl named Nikki. Jon said the decision to bring the young girl

into their home was difficult for him. He thought with s passing and

their son, Tom, reaching adulthood, they were done with the parent thing.

But felt would have wanted Nikki to become a part of her

family

and eventually Jon agreed. He doesnt regret the decision. he said. The Ada

fifth grader has enriched their lives. the couple agreed.

In the near future. the family will make changes in s room by

painting the walls and moving the furniture around. It will become Nikkis

room.

will be signing copies of Twice an Angel at the Ada Public

Library Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and at the County Bank in Ada April 8

and April 22, 9:30 to 11:30 pm.

Copies of the book are available at County Bank and. the Four Season

Drive-Thru in Ada, the administration offices of the Ada High School and

Precious Promises in Kenton.

Proceeds from Twice an Angel will establish a Umphress

Scholarship and be donated to the Lyme Disease Foundation for research.>>

Here is how to order the book:

Send orders to:

Twice an Angel

112 South St.

Ada, OH 45810.

Checks or money orders should be made out to:

Good Earth Publishers.

For Ohioans, the total cost including bookrate shipping is $15.73, or $16.93

priority mail (includes 6% OH tax).

Outside Ohio, the total cost including bookrate shipping is $14.95 or $16.15

priority mail.

Bulk orders will be accepted from Lyme disease support groups, churches,

bookstores, etc.

E-mail umphress@... for inquiries on bulk costs.

Books will be signed upon request.