I was diagnosed with ALS in late 2004 while living and working in Sydney, Australia. In retrospect my first symptoms (coughing, crying and yawning) started several years earlier. My husband and family were still living in New Zealand and I chose to remain in Sydney and continue working as a clinical research associate. For the next two and a half years I travelled extensively for work and holidays while slowly losing my voice and my ability to eat. My book is not only a "cannot put down" story, but a very poignant milestone in understanding the human tragedy of ALS - see below

...is an inspiring and emotionally moving story of courage and determination.

One year after moving from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia to start a new career Barbara is diagnosed with motor neurone disease, an incurable, degenerative, terminal condition. Once diagnosed with motor neurone disease, there is currently no hope of a cure. The best one can hope for is to slow the progression of the disease.

People may react in different ways to the diagnosis of motor neurone disease. They can devote themselves to fighting the disease, they can try to live as fully as they can or they can give up. Barbara, elder daughter of the redoubtable Sir Robert Muldoon - a heritage of courage under fire - chooses to live life as fully as she can while she is able to.

Fifty three year old Barbara continues living alone in Sydney, working fulltime as a clinical research associate and travelling for work, often on a weekly basis, to hospitals in Australia and New Zealand.

Barbara recounts her day to day life as it happens, the good times, the bad times, numerous medical consultations, taxi rides, plane trips, hotel stays and holidays. She keeps up a hectic work and travel schedule while she slowly loses her ability to speak and swallow.

As Barbara becomes physically weaker travelling becomes more difficult and reluctantly she prepares to return to live in Auckland www.losingmyvoice.com