Living with MS, March 29, 2008

MISSING STEPS by York Van Nixon III is the story of Kory Vanon, a man who lost his faith in God at the tender age of four. He couldn't imagine God forgiving him for all the sins he intended to commit. He met and married a woman from Somalia and they had a son whom they named Kory also. The marriage was good for the first few years but as Kory got into drugs and other women, it fell apart and they divorced. After that, Kory tended to be with any woman who caught his fancy. He began to notice physical changes, such as tingling in his feet and legs and difficulty standing. Attempting to treat the unknown condition with herbs and natural medicines, he continued his life style. One day, his son found him flat on his back in bed and his bookcase overturned; he realized something serious was wrong with his father. At Kory Junior's insistence, Kory Senior decided to see a neurologist. As he suspected, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It brought back memories of a cousin with the affliction who was confined to a wheel chair. He was determined it wouldn't happen to him.

Kory continued with his life, jogging, being a professional dancer and a real estate appraiser. Along the way, he met and fell for a British woman who lived in England. Occasionally he would call her, but Kory's pride kept him from getting too attached to any woman. He didn't want any of them to see him when he couldn't walk or take care of himself. His son got him involved in a group of people recently diagnosed with the disease, hoping to relieve some of his depression. Will Kory ever be able to give up his pride and join with a woman who really cares about him?

York Van Nixon III has spun a fantastic tale of living with the steadily creeping disability of multiple sclerosis. While Kory's life is fascinating, there is always that background noise of his ailment and when it will bowl him over. It was easy to identify with the pain Kory felt as he denied the disease a place in his life. The book was well-written and brings to the forefront that everything is not always as it seems. It will stop you from taking people at face value and cause you to look just a bit deeper.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers