The puzzle solver : a scientist's desperate hunt to cure Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and save his son

At the age of twenty-seven, a mysterious illness began to eat away at Whitney Dafoe. It stole away the strength of his legs, then his voice, and his ability to eat, until even the sound of a footstep in his room became unbearable. For years, he underwent endless medical tests until finally receiving a diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.With no cure or successful treatment, Whitney's father, Ron Davis, PhD-a world class geneticist at Stanford University whose legendary research helped crack the code of DNA-suddenly changed the course of his career in a race against time to cure his son's debilitating condition.In __The Puzzle Solver__, journalist Tracie White-who wrote the viral and award-winning piece on Ron and his family in __Stanford Medicine__-tells the full story. In gripping prose, she masterfully takes readers along on this journey with Davis to solve one of the greatest mysteries in medicine. "For the past six years, Whitney Dafoe has been confined to a bedroom in the back of his parents' home, unable to walk, to eat, to speak. The sound of music causes him pain. At one point, the formerly healthy, young, freelance photographer, faced starvation as his 6'3" frame withered to 115 pounds. In desperation, Whitney and his parents went from one specialist to another, and still no answers. Then, finally, a diagnosis: the mysterious disease myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Whitney's story is heartbreaking, but it's also one of redemption. It reaches far beyond just one family's harrowing tale. Today, ME/CFS affects between 1 and 2.5 million Americans--and 20 million people around the world. Those afflicted largely suffer in silence because the disease is little known and much misunderstood. The question lingers still whether it even exists outside the patient's mind. Often disbelieved, they're abandoned by family and friends. They lose their jobs, and battle with insurance companies over rising medical costs as the chronic disease continues on year after year. In one way, Whitney has been lucky. He could reach out to his father, a world renowned, scientist, for answers. This book is the story of one father's desperate hunt for the insidious illness that stole his son away. Invisible follows Ron as he unravels the molecular trail within his own son's donated blood and genome, to began to find answers. He confirms this is a biological disease and uncovers new possibilities for treatments and potentially a cure. At its heart, Invisible is about more than just cutting edge research or a race to find the cure for ME/CFS--it's about the unbreakable bond between a father and his son, and the lengths to which a parent will go to save their child's life."-- Provided by publisher For The Past Six Years, Whitney Dafoe Has Been Confined To A Bedroom In The Back Of His Parents' Home, Unable To Walk, To Eat, To Speak. The Sound Of Music Causes Him Pain. At One Point, The Formerly Healthy, Young, Freelance Photographer, Faced Starvation As His 6'3′′ Frame Withered To 115 Pounds. In Desperation, Whitney And His Parents Went From One Specialist To Another, And Still No Answers. Then, Finally, A Diagnosis: The Mysterious Disease Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (me/cfs). Whitney's Story Is Heartbreaking, But It's Also One Of Redemption. It Reaches Far Beyond Just One Family's Harrowing Tale. Today, Me/cfs Affects Between 1 And 2.5 Million Americans-and 20 Million People Around The World. Those Afflicted Largely Suffer In Silence Because The Disease Is Little Known And Much Misunderstood. The Question Lingers Still Whether It Even Exists Outside The Patient's Mind. Often Disbelieved, They're Abandoned By Family And Friends. They Lose Their Jobs, And Battle With Insurance Companies Over Rising Medical Costs As The Chronic Disease Continues On Year After Year. In One Way, Whitney Has Been Lucky. He Could Reach Out To His Father, A World Renowned, Scientist, For Answers. This Book Is The Story Of One Father's Desperate Hunt For The Insidious Illness That Stole His Son Away. The Puzzle Solver Follows Ron As He Unravels The Molecular Trail Within His Own Son's Donated Blood And Genome, To Began To Find Answers. He Confirms This Is A Biological Disease And Uncovers New Possibilities For Treatments And Potentially A Cure. At Its Heart, The Puzzle Solver Is About More Than Just Cutting Edge Research Or A Race To Find The Cure For Me/cfs-it's About The Unbreakable Bond Between A Father And His Son, And The Lengths To Which A Parent Will Go To Save Their Child's Life. Based on a viral article, the gripping medical mystery story of Ron Davis, a world-class Stanford geneticist who has put his career on the line to find the cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, the disease killing his son.At the age of twenty-seven, a mysterious illness began to eat away at Whitney Dafoe. It stole away the strength of his legs, then his voice, and his ability to eat, until even the sound of a footstep in his room became unbearable. For years, he underwent endless medical tests until finally receiving a diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. With no cure or successful treatment, Whitney's father, Ron Davis, PhD-a world class geneticist at Stanford University whose legendary research helped crack the code of DNA-suddenly changed the course of his career in a race against time to cure his son's debilitating condition. In The Puzzle Solver, journalist Tracie White-who wrote the viral and award-winning piece on Ron and his family in Stanford Medicine-tells the full story. In gripping prose, she masterfully takes readers along on this journey with Davis to solve one of the greatest mysteries in medicine. At the age of twenty-seven, a mysterious illness began to eat away at Whitney Dafoe. It stole away the strength of his legs, then his voice, and his ability to eat, until even the sound of a footstep in his room became unbearable. For years, he underwent endless medical tests until finally receiving a diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. With no cure or successful treatment, Whitney's father, Ron Davis, PhD-a world class geneticist at Stanford University whose legendary research helped crack the code of DNA-suddenly changed the course of his career in a race against time to cure his son's debilitating condition. In The Puzzle Solver , journalist Tracie White-who wrote the viral and award-winning piece on Ron and his family in Stanford Medicine -tells the full story. In gripping prose, she masterfully takes readers along on this journey with Davis to solve one of the greatest mysteries in medicine.