Susan Spencer-Wendel, whose book chronicled life with Lou Gehrig’s disease, dies at 47

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Susan Spencer-Wendel, whose heartbreaking account of her battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease became a bestselling book, has died.

John Wendel says his wife, died at their Florida home Wednesday morning. She was 47.

Spencer-Wendel was a reporter for The Palm Beach Post when she first noticed signs of changing health five years ago. After she was diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease, she began a final series of trips with those closest to her.

They became the basis for “Until I Say Goodbye,” that earned her a $2.3 million deal from Harper Collins and became a bestseller after its release last year.

Wendel says his wife managed to remain positive to the very end.