- Susan Abod
- copyright 1995 Susan
Abod, Lisa Pontoppidan
-
-
- In the Moment
- Lyrics from her CD
published in the new german MCS Anthology
- Funny, You
Don’t Look Sick
- An Autobiography of an Illness
This intimate documentary self-portrait is told with humor and
compassion. Susan Abod is a woman living with Chronic Fatigue
Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Multiple Chemical
Sensitivities (MCS) or Environmental Illness. Filmed over a
period of 18 months in 1994-95, Susan describes in detail the
nature of her illness, illustrates her daily routine, and gives
us a guided tour of her environmentally “safe”
apartment. Comments from Susan’s numerous doctors and a
visit with her CFIDS support group offer further insights in this
illuminating, firsthand report on a baffling, twenty-first
century disease.
- Produced by Susan Abod and Lisa Pontoppidan, 1995
- Color, 64 mins, VHS video
- To order visit www.susanabod.com or see instructions below
- A page from Susan's
journal dated: July 1993
- "So why make this video? This can be a creative way
to help me explore and embrace my past seven years'
experience with CFIDS & MCS. Maybe it can deepen and
enrich my perspective-allowing me to "be" with
my life, just as it is, today and maybe even fall in love
with it. Second, by making the experience visible- others
might then be able to identify and feel that their
physical and emotional experiences with these illnesses
are validated. Maybe, it might lessen feelings of
isolation (others' as well as my own), enable people to
seek out available resources."
- "Those longing to retrieve the experience of genuine
emotion in a dark theater, will want to see Funny You
Don't Look Sick...It invites the healthy and disabled to
recognize a common will to endure and prevail...This
autobiographical video is not portrait of a victim. It is
the self-discovery of a survivor."
- The Boston
Globe
- "Her perseverance and cheer are moving."
"Fine documentary on an important theme"
- Chicago
Tribune
-
- "...excellent...serious, though often
humorous...Susan Abod's story puts a human face on this
debilitating illness which robs people of their energy
and plays havoc with their immune system responses. When
Abod wistfully lists pleasures she misses-afghans,
coffee, browsing through the mail-we begin to comprehend
both the magnitude of the losses and how much we take for
granted. Highly recommended."
- Video
Librarian
-
- ["Funny You Don't Look Sick"] can stand on it's
own in any gathering of documentary films ...
Entertaining and highly professional"
- The Human
Ecologist
-
- "...A provocative documentary...validates the
physical and emotional experience of living these
illnesses."
- Sojourner: The
Women's Forum-
-
- "...poignant and dramatically honest. There are many
unexplored kinds of illness and this film places an
enlightened face on disabilities that no one would
otherwise discuss."
- Gail Kansky,
President
- Massachusetts
CFIDS Association
-
- "This is a valuable educational tool. It brings the
reality of living with a 20th century illness into our
homes and confronts us with the potential consequences of
toxic exposures."
- "It brings the reality of living with 20th century
illness into our homes and confronts us with the
potential consequences of toxic exposures."
- Peter
Nakashian, Executive Director
- American
Association of Environmental Medicine (AAEM)
-
- " I found this video to be very useful in educating
those who suffer with CFIDS and MCS; informing families
and friends. "Funny You Don't Look Sick" is a
helpful aid (source) for learning about such a
complicated illness"
- Dr. Jeanne
Hubbuch, Newton MA
- AAEM member
-
- "It might be an eye opener. It would help doctors,
particularly those who are not sick treating patients
with MCS to see what exactly is the daily ordinary
routine for people with this problem.
- I was very moved deeply moved by Susan's account of her
daily struggles with aspects of life that most people
never have to be concerned with- that are taken for
granted- the smallest items are the greatest obstacles
for this courageous woman with MCS."
- Dr. Erica
Elliot, Sante Fe, NM
- Co-author of
“Prescription for a Healthy House”
- To Order Video
Cassettes:
- Send Check or Money Order:
- $29.95 + $5.95 shipping/handling. Total $35.90 for each
copy you are ordering.
- Make check payable to: Susan
Abod
- Write quantity desired and
title, "Funny, You Don't Look Sick" in the memo
- Mail to: Susan Abod, PO Box
851, Watertown, MA 02471-0851
- Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.
- E-mail: snabod@rcn.com
- Artists
with MCS
- Contents
