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A Million Ordinary Days
Allison Wheeler is fighting a war inside her body, a war with Multiple Sclerosis that she doesn’t want to acknowledge and certainly doesn’t want other people to see.
As Allison’s health deteriorates, she tries desperately to hold on to all that is important to her – her family, her career as a social worker for pregnant teens, and most of all, her independence. As her ex-husband and two daughters rally around her, they’re fighting their own demons – Glenn, in a new relationship, is afraid of shifting the comfortable companionship that he and Allison have built since their divorce fifteen years back. Melanie, whose sad past haunts her, is an adult realizing that adult life is not all it’s cracked up to be, and Hailey, a junior in high school, is debating how she can go off to college knowing that even though she desperately wants to spread her wings and fly, her mother may be too ill for her to go. Just when they all think they’ve made peace with their lives, they must readjust to a “new” normal – or risk losing everything they’ve struggled to hold onto.
As Allison’s health deteriorates, she tries desperately to hold on to all that is important to her – her family, her career as a social worker for pregnant teens, and most of all, her independence. As her ex-husband and two daughters rally around her, they’re fighting their own demons – Glenn, in a new relationship, is afraid of shifting the comfortable companionship that he and Allison have built since their divorce fifteen years back. Melanie, whose sad past haunts her, is an adult realizing that adult life is not all it’s cracked up to be, and Hailey, a junior in high school, is debating how she can go off to college knowing that even though she desperately wants to spread her wings and fly, her mother may be too ill for her to go. Just when they all think they’ve made peace with their lives, they must readjust to a “new” normal – or risk losing everything they’ve struggled to hold onto.
- GenresWomens Fiction
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2017
7 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Judy Mollen Walters
9 books82 followersJudy Mollen Walters is the author of four novels, Start at the Beginning (2016), The place to Say Goodbye (2015), The Opposite of Normal (2014), and Child of Mine (2013). She can be reached at judymwalters@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 10, 2018
A Million Ordinary Days by Judy Mollen Walters is a look at how a chronic illness can change not only one woman’s life, but also those of her husband and children. Told in the points of view of each of the four members of Allison Wheeler’s family, it chronicles the changes in each as Allison’s disease progresses. Diagnosed shortly after her first child, Melanie, was born, Allison misses much of that daughter’s childhood. Melanie is a difficult child, and with Alison’s illness, her husband, Glenn, assumes all the responsibilities of caring for his wife and daughter and trying to pursue a IT career. Alison’s medications are changed, and she finally sees some relief but stubbornly refuses to admit that her multiple sclerosis frequently handicaps her. When she can no longer perform her duties as a pediatric physical therapist, she returns to school to become a social worker. The disease and the schooling further isolate her from Melanie—and her husband.
Once her medication regimen seems to be helping, Allison decides to have another child, Hailey, as angelic a child as the couple could hope for, and Allison is able to fully participate in the requirements of motherhood.
Each member of the Wheeler family is scarred in their own way by Allison’s illness. It is fascinating to see how the family dynamic ebbs and flows based on the mother’s illness. A Million Ordinary Days is also an insight into what happens to caregivers of those with long-term illnesses.
I read this book in one sitting and only occasionally was taken out of the story, usually by a point-of-view shift.
This book should be read in conjunction with Marylee MacDonald’s Montpelier Tomorrow, which captures the heartache and the joys of being a caregiver in a long-term care situation. Published in 2014, MacDonald’s is a subtle, carefully crafted novel that captures the struggles of a family disrupted by Lou Gehrig's disease. Colleen, the mother, attempts to "save" her daughter by becoming caregiver to the son-in-law, Tony, as his disease progresses. Colleen is an admirable character for such self-sacrifice, yet MacDonald captures her moments of being less than likable when Tony's self-centered behavior infuriates her, when her daughter, Sandy, is less than appreciative, and Colleen's loss of a potential love many years ago.
These two books capture the effects of illnesses on families, a problem shared by not only those who have family members with Lou Gehrig’s or multiple sclerosis, but by those whose parents are touched by Alzheimer’s or any other long-term disease.
Once her medication regimen seems to be helping, Allison decides to have another child, Hailey, as angelic a child as the couple could hope for, and Allison is able to fully participate in the requirements of motherhood.
Each member of the Wheeler family is scarred in their own way by Allison’s illness. It is fascinating to see how the family dynamic ebbs and flows based on the mother’s illness. A Million Ordinary Days is also an insight into what happens to caregivers of those with long-term illnesses.
I read this book in one sitting and only occasionally was taken out of the story, usually by a point-of-view shift.
This book should be read in conjunction with Marylee MacDonald’s Montpelier Tomorrow, which captures the heartache and the joys of being a caregiver in a long-term care situation. Published in 2014, MacDonald’s is a subtle, carefully crafted novel that captures the struggles of a family disrupted by Lou Gehrig's disease. Colleen, the mother, attempts to "save" her daughter by becoming caregiver to the son-in-law, Tony, as his disease progresses. Colleen is an admirable character for such self-sacrifice, yet MacDonald captures her moments of being less than likable when Tony's self-centered behavior infuriates her, when her daughter, Sandy, is less than appreciative, and Colleen's loss of a potential love many years ago.
These two books capture the effects of illnesses on families, a problem shared by not only those who have family members with Lou Gehrig’s or multiple sclerosis, but by those whose parents are touched by Alzheimer’s or any other long-term disease.
March 18, 2019
A Million Ordinary Days
Judy Mollen Walters
What a powerful compelling story and great read that will hold your interest from the minute you pick it up.
Told in the points of view of each of the four members of Allison Wheeler’s family ,you will go on a journey with Allison, a woman who struggles with coming to terms with MS. The strength and determination she has is amazing. Yet some of the things she does makes you want to shake her.
Judy Mollen Walters does an amazing job of drawing you into the story and the lives of each member of the Wheeler family as they navigate life, while living with someone with chronic illness. A life that is not easy. You get to see how it affects every aspect of their life.
After a flare up with MS, we see Allison's life really begin to change.
She does not want to accept the fact that she has MS and hangs on to her independence for dear life. As someone who has MS I related Allison in some ways. It is hard to let go and depend on someone to take care of you. You feel shame and guilt .Then you begin to push your loved ones away so that MS don't rob them of their life as well. Living with ms has a great impact on you and every member of the family.
After Allison has several flares back to back she tries desperately to hold on to all that is important to her . Her family, her career as a social worker for pregnant teens, and most of all, her independence. Melanie her oldest daughter comes back home to help with her mother after Allison does something that could of killed her.
Meanwhile Hailey who is a momma's girl, and a junior in high school, is debating how she can go off to college knowing that her mom now needs full time care. Glenn Allison's x husband and the girls father fineally realizes how bad of shape Allison really is in . Now he wants to take Hailey to live with him and his new Girlfriend.
Can Allison's family make her realize she needs their help before it is too late ? Will Glenn take Hailey away ?
A Million Ordinary Days is a wonderful insight into what happens to caregivers of those with long-term illnesses and thoes living with one.You will be drawn to the characters in this story and care deeply about them. You will scream and cry many times before you turn the last page.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you Judy Mollen Walters for bringing awareness to MS and writing such a heartfelt amazing story.
Judy Mollen Walters
What a powerful compelling story and great read that will hold your interest from the minute you pick it up.
Told in the points of view of each of the four members of Allison Wheeler’s family ,you will go on a journey with Allison, a woman who struggles with coming to terms with MS. The strength and determination she has is amazing. Yet some of the things she does makes you want to shake her.
Judy Mollen Walters does an amazing job of drawing you into the story and the lives of each member of the Wheeler family as they navigate life, while living with someone with chronic illness. A life that is not easy. You get to see how it affects every aspect of their life.
After a flare up with MS, we see Allison's life really begin to change.
She does not want to accept the fact that she has MS and hangs on to her independence for dear life. As someone who has MS I related Allison in some ways. It is hard to let go and depend on someone to take care of you. You feel shame and guilt .Then you begin to push your loved ones away so that MS don't rob them of their life as well. Living with ms has a great impact on you and every member of the family.
After Allison has several flares back to back she tries desperately to hold on to all that is important to her . Her family, her career as a social worker for pregnant teens, and most of all, her independence. Melanie her oldest daughter comes back home to help with her mother after Allison does something that could of killed her.
Meanwhile Hailey who is a momma's girl, and a junior in high school, is debating how she can go off to college knowing that her mom now needs full time care. Glenn Allison's x husband and the girls father fineally realizes how bad of shape Allison really is in . Now he wants to take Hailey to live with him and his new Girlfriend.
Can Allison's family make her realize she needs their help before it is too late ? Will Glenn take Hailey away ?
A Million Ordinary Days is a wonderful insight into what happens to caregivers of those with long-term illnesses and thoes living with one.You will be drawn to the characters in this story and care deeply about them. You will scream and cry many times before you turn the last page.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you Judy Mollen Walters for bringing awareness to MS and writing such a heartfelt amazing story.
March 15, 2017
This is a tough review to write for a few different reasons. While I found this to be a very thoughtful book that did a lot of educating about chronic illnesses without really seeming to, I did find myself having to put the book aside a couple of times because it's very intense. Others may not feel that way and I certainly don't mean it in a bad way at all. It's just a very intense read that took a lot out of me. I wish I had a better word than intense, but I don't. Deep maybe? Affecting? Not sure. One of the other reasons is because I've suffered with debilitating depression for many years and reading about Allison reminded me of all the times my family would ask "Did you take your medicine? Why can't you come with us, be happy, join in"...and more. Not out of meanness, but out of not always understanding. Allison also ran into those issues. If you or someone you love has a chronic illness, then these are likely very familiar feelings to you.
Allison is the primary character and she has MS. For years she's struggled through without having to make a whole lot of adaptions in her life. She's a social worker that works with young, pregnant teens and has trouble with the boundaries that she needs to keep in place in that job. I often wondered while reading this, why she gave so much to those girls and yet, didn't seem to have the same to give to her daughters. Maybe she saw her own daughters as privileged and thought they might not need her as much, I'm not sure, but her oldest, Melanie, moved halfway across the country, probably because she saw her mom always giving herself to others and shortchanging her daughters.
After a flare up of the MS, we see Allison's life really begin to change. This is where things get tough and she continues to try to power through as she always has without the same good results. It had to be very frightening and even worse, would leave a person feeling helpless and upset at having to rely on others to get through each day.
To say much more would be to ruin the book so I won't continue, but I have to say, if you've ever wondered about people with chronic illnesses, what they face, how they cope or some of what they feel, this is the book for you. If you enjoy family dramas, for want of a better description, then this is the book for you. You'll see how people change, how they cope and how accepting many people can be. I think this is a book that educates while not beating you over the head with a lesson, it also could serve as inspiration for some and for others, possibly a mirror held up to their lives with almost a warning of sorts...take help where it's offered or when you truly need it, it might not be there.
As always, Judy Mollen Walters' characters are multi-faceted, very complex and whether you love them or hate them, they are human with all the flaws and positives we all have. No matter which of her books you pick up to read, you'll find that complexity and realness and find yourself still asking questions of yourself after you've finished reading it.
Allison is the primary character and she has MS. For years she's struggled through without having to make a whole lot of adaptions in her life. She's a social worker that works with young, pregnant teens and has trouble with the boundaries that she needs to keep in place in that job. I often wondered while reading this, why she gave so much to those girls and yet, didn't seem to have the same to give to her daughters. Maybe she saw her own daughters as privileged and thought they might not need her as much, I'm not sure, but her oldest, Melanie, moved halfway across the country, probably because she saw her mom always giving herself to others and shortchanging her daughters.
After a flare up of the MS, we see Allison's life really begin to change. This is where things get tough and she continues to try to power through as she always has without the same good results. It had to be very frightening and even worse, would leave a person feeling helpless and upset at having to rely on others to get through each day.
To say much more would be to ruin the book so I won't continue, but I have to say, if you've ever wondered about people with chronic illnesses, what they face, how they cope or some of what they feel, this is the book for you. If you enjoy family dramas, for want of a better description, then this is the book for you. You'll see how people change, how they cope and how accepting many people can be. I think this is a book that educates while not beating you over the head with a lesson, it also could serve as inspiration for some and for others, possibly a mirror held up to their lives with almost a warning of sorts...take help where it's offered or when you truly need it, it might not be there.
As always, Judy Mollen Walters' characters are multi-faceted, very complex and whether you love them or hate them, they are human with all the flaws and positives we all have. No matter which of her books you pick up to read, you'll find that complexity and realness and find yourself still asking questions of yourself after you've finished reading it.
January 25, 2022
While this was a good read and interesting enough to keep me going, it was so incredibly redundant in many places. All right, all right already, I get it. She has MS. I didn't need to have this repeated constantly. Maybe because my experience with MS is different I don't understand how someone can be so stubborn as to continue on when it's so obvious that you need to sit back and take it easy for a while. Seriously, if you're peeing your pants and you can barely see, you have no business carrying on like there's nothing wrong. Yes, MS is impactful. Yes, MS doesn't just affect the person who has it but those close are affected as well. I just didn't understand this character.
September 3, 2018
I really liked this novel. Very well done and the great research of Allison’s debilitating disease was apparent. I really liked her ex, Glenn. What a nice guy, going above and beyond. The girls are interesting, obviously affected by their mother’s decline. Allison is a very complicated woman, making her situation more difficult, with her obsessive independence and denial.this is a must read!
Thank you Judy Mullen Walters for this wonderful giveaway!
Thank you Judy Mullen Walters for this wonderful giveaway!
June 9, 2022
A poignant look at how chronic illness affects everyone in a person's family. Allison may be the one with MS but everyone around her is impacted as her illness gets progressively worse. It's not unusual for people suffering from an illness to want to be "normal," but Allison's refusal to accept the signs that the illness is getting worse causes distress to her daughters, ex-husband, co-workers and clients. It also nearly costs her her life.
April 7, 2022
Interesting concept but ruined by insufferable characters. Couldn't warm to any of them but the main character was just so pigheadedly stubborn that I'm surprised my eyes didn't roll out of my head long before the end. Could have been much better and the dialogue was quite trite in parts too. Not for me.
March 15, 2017
I saw this book in the Goodreads giveaway list and was intrigued by the description. I requested a review copy from the author. and she sent it right away. The full novel far surpassed my hopes.
She included so many of the struggles that can face a family affected by a loved one's chronic illness. At the beginning of the story we see a family that has learned to cope with Allison's multiple sclerosis (MS )over the years in their own individual ways. Things are going as well as could be expected.
We can see the cracks start to appear when Allison doesn't recover from a setback as quickly as she has previously. Suddenly she's no longer able to fool her ex-husband, her doctor, and her daughters--one of whom has been estranged for several years. Of course, this change comes at the worst possible time. Her ex is in a new relationship that is quickly becoming serious and making him rethink his role in Allison's life. Her younger daughter Hailey is in high school about to start looking at colleges and think of moving away for the first time. Her older daughter Melanie lived feeling like no one cared about her and gave her what she needed. She was an alcoholic in high school, and left as soon as she graduated. She looked like a healthy businesswoman living a life anyone would want, but her recovery didn't help her find a life that made her happy.
Allison defined herself by her work, so her family suffered. So did her body. She had to return to school for social work when she could no longer function effectively as a physical therapist. Her career was so important that she kept going well past the point that it was healthy for her. I was frustrated at her care and compassion for her clients, especially Daria, because I wasn't sure it came from a healthy place in her heart. It seemed she had a more effective parenting relationship with her clients than her own daughters. I wasn't sure how much of the commitment to her career stemmed from her refusal to admit that the MS was getting worse. As someone who wanted to spend her career doing work like Allison's, I saw that the relationship with Daria was too intense for the boundaries she needed to function with her limitations.
It was a conflict I understood well. Letting go of work was the last thing I wanted to happen. Everyone with a chronic illness or disability who has had to make that choice feels Allison's pain at some point in the process. I'm glad she found a way to balance her boundaries to have a full life, care for her daughters with her whole heart and to let a new man into her world.
Chronic illness and disability changed her life in ways she couldn't fix alone. She had to work with them and allow people to help her. If she hadn't gotten sick, I wonder what would have happened to her marriage. I suspect her commitment to her career might have eventually forced a crisis point in her relationships.
I'm also glad we were left with a hopeful ending instead of following Allison to her eventual final end. I think that is a good message to leave those of us struggling with illness and disability.
She included so many of the struggles that can face a family affected by a loved one's chronic illness. At the beginning of the story we see a family that has learned to cope with Allison's multiple sclerosis (MS )over the years in their own individual ways. Things are going as well as could be expected.
We can see the cracks start to appear when Allison doesn't recover from a setback as quickly as she has previously. Suddenly she's no longer able to fool her ex-husband, her doctor, and her daughters--one of whom has been estranged for several years. Of course, this change comes at the worst possible time. Her ex is in a new relationship that is quickly becoming serious and making him rethink his role in Allison's life. Her younger daughter Hailey is in high school about to start looking at colleges and think of moving away for the first time. Her older daughter Melanie lived feeling like no one cared about her and gave her what she needed. She was an alcoholic in high school, and left as soon as she graduated. She looked like a healthy businesswoman living a life anyone would want, but her recovery didn't help her find a life that made her happy.
Allison defined herself by her work, so her family suffered. So did her body. She had to return to school for social work when she could no longer function effectively as a physical therapist. Her career was so important that she kept going well past the point that it was healthy for her. I was frustrated at her care and compassion for her clients, especially Daria, because I wasn't sure it came from a healthy place in her heart. It seemed she had a more effective parenting relationship with her clients than her own daughters. I wasn't sure how much of the commitment to her career stemmed from her refusal to admit that the MS was getting worse. As someone who wanted to spend her career doing work like Allison's, I saw that the relationship with Daria was too intense for the boundaries she needed to function with her limitations.
It was a conflict I understood well. Letting go of work was the last thing I wanted to happen. Everyone with a chronic illness or disability who has had to make that choice feels Allison's pain at some point in the process. I'm glad she found a way to balance her boundaries to have a full life, care for her daughters with her whole heart and to let a new man into her world.
Chronic illness and disability changed her life in ways she couldn't fix alone. She had to work with them and allow people to help her. If she hadn't gotten sick, I wonder what would have happened to her marriage. I suspect her commitment to her career might have eventually forced a crisis point in her relationships.
I'm also glad we were left with a hopeful ending instead of following Allison to her eventual final end. I think that is a good message to leave those of us struggling with illness and disability.
March 27, 2017
Judy Walter's latest is a sensitive, realistic, and eye-opening story about living with chronic illness and its impact on every member of the family.
April 20, 2017
This was a powerful story with an unlikely but real heroine. It chronicles the life of Allison Wheeler, a strong, smart, independent woman and her family as they all learn to navigate MS. No one suffers alone and this deep look into the family exposes dark corners and moments of triumph.
Allison is more than her MS. It defines her life but not her heart. The decisions she makes for herself and those she loves may not be the best for everyone, but they reflect the choices we all make in life.
As Allison's MS changes, and her children grow and change, there is an emotional tug that propels you through the story. This is about living with chronic illness. It could be any illness, though the inside perspective of MS is eye-opening for anyone without direct experience with the disease.
It is easy to see this heroine as a real person, someone you want to shake and say, why are you doing that? or cheer for when her courage strikes a chord to something in your own life.
Despite it's heavy topic, Judy Mollen Walters writes with an easy style that keeps you engaged to the last page.
Allison is more than her MS. It defines her life but not her heart. The decisions she makes for herself and those she loves may not be the best for everyone, but they reflect the choices we all make in life.
As Allison's MS changes, and her children grow and change, there is an emotional tug that propels you through the story. This is about living with chronic illness. It could be any illness, though the inside perspective of MS is eye-opening for anyone without direct experience with the disease.
It is easy to see this heroine as a real person, someone you want to shake and say, why are you doing that? or cheer for when her courage strikes a chord to something in your own life.
Despite it's heavy topic, Judy Mollen Walters writes with an easy style that keeps you engaged to the last page.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews