Marfan In Popular Culture

Books:

Books In Which Marfan Is Mentioned

Popular books about living with the Marfan syndrome often contain information that is more difficult to find in medical textbooks or web sites. The books listed here include at least some mention of Marfan syndrome in the book.

• Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul: Fish Tales to Hook Your Spirit and Snag Your Funny Bone, by Jack Canfield, et al.

Jennie Logsdon Martin has a story in here. Her story is as much about living with the Marfan syndrome as it is about fishing.

• Sweetie's Diamonds, by Raymond Benson

This is a mystery fiction book where one of the main characters, a 13-year-old boy, has Marfan syndrome. It's not a bad portrayal of the syndrome, except that it is implied that Marfan skips a generation (a grandparent has Marfan, the boy has Marfan, but the mother does not). Other than that, it's pretty good. Good story, too, if you don't mind reading about the adult film industry.

By Authors Who Have Marfan Syndrome

Roanne Weisman

• Own Your Health, by Roanne Weisman Read Roanne's blog!
• Your Sick Child: Fever, allergies, ear infections, colds and more, by John D. Mark, M.D., and Roanne Weisman
• Pain: Back pain, arthritits, migraines, joint pain and more, by Adam Perlman, M.D., and Roanne Weisman
• Healthy to 100: Aging with vigor and grace, by Alexa Fleckenstein, M.D., and Roanne Weisman
• Your Developing Baby

Roanne Weisman and her son have Marfan, and in some sections of Own Your Health, they share their experiences. Roanne has co-written the three other books, with medical experts, in her Own Your Health series. All of Roanne's books are higly readable and are full of good advice.

Vincent Schiavelli

• Italian cookbooks and books about Italian life

Mathew Rudes

• The Truth About Chronic Pain: Patients and professionals on how to face it, understand it, overcome it, by Arthur Rosenfeld

The Truth About Chronic Pain includes a whole chapter about Mathew Rudes' experiences. Mathew was born with severe Marfan symptoms.

Movies:

• Mo
• Rent The playwright, Jonathan Larson, died from Marfan syndrome. There is a PSA in the extra features of the DVD about the National Marfan Foundation.
• Gattaca The theme of the movie is apropos to those of us with Marfan, and in the extra features of the DVD.

Music:

• Rent soundtrack Related to Marfan only in that Jonathan Larson died from Marfan syndrome.
• John Tavener Tavener has Marfan syndrome