Physical Imprisonment

Tony Judt is a very impacting memoir because the author is writing about his own life, recapping every moment since he has been diagnosed of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. To understand what his situation is, I researched ALS and found it to be a degenerative disease that eventually leaves the victim almost paralyzed. ALS is mostly known as Lou Gehrig's disease that leads to weakness, muscle atrophy, fasciculations, muscle spasticity, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing.

Tony Judt refers to his disease as a "physical imprisonment." This is due to the fact that Judt wants to carry on his everyday life, but can't, he has lost the ability to move and thinks faster than he can speak. Judt states that the disease gives him the opportunity to contemplate the past, present, and future. However, he can't put to action these contemplations and idease because he cannot move and has lost all his independence. How has he dealt with this physical imprisonment? Who helps him out? Does his family accompany him through every step of the way?

In the past vide Tony Judt discusses his disease and states that he must live in the present, not thinking about the future. Yet, in his book he can't help but contemplate the future and what decisions he must take. With this, I can only help but wonder, how has Tony Judt dealt with the stress of this disease? Has he received any psychological assistance?