Guest Profile

Susan & John Wendel

A journalist for over twenty years, Susan Spencer-Wendel left her job as courts reporter for the Palm Beach Post when she was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. She has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Florida Press Club and Florida Bar for her coverage of legal issues. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Florida. She lives in Florida with her husband, John, and their three children, Marina - fourteen yrs old, Aubrey - ten yrs old, and Wesley - eight yrs old.

Susan Spencer-Wendel's Until I Say Good-Bye: My Year of Living with Joy is a moving and inspirational memoir by a woman who makes the most of her final days after discovering she has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS.After Spencer-Wendel, a celebrated journalist at the Palm Beach Post, learns of her diagnosis of ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, she embarks on several adventures, traveling to several countries and sharing special experiences with loved ones.


One trip takes Spencer-Wendel and her 14 year old daughter, Marina, to New York City's Kleinfeld's Bridal to shop for Marina's future wedding dress, an occasion that Susan knows she will never see. Co-written with Bret Witter, Until I Say Good-Bye is Spencer-Wendel's account of living a full life with humor, courage, and love, but also accepting death with grace and dignity. It's a celebration of life, a look into the face of death, and the effort we must make to show the people that we love and care about how very much they mean to us