"29 GIFTS: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life," by Cami Walker, Da Capo Press, 226 pages, $19.95

According to the National MS Society, an estimated 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis, and every week, about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS affects about 2.5 million people.

MS is a chronic, progressive disease of the central nervous system, and every person living with MS has a different set of symptoms, depending on which nerves are affected.

For Cami Walker, a diagnosis was a mixed blessing. After years of unexplained symptoms, she was able to put a name on her disease. But as Walker's symptoms increased, so did her depression.

Barely able to walk and in incredible pain, Walker feared she would end up in a wheelchair and that her husband would leave her.

There seemed no end to Walker's downward spiral until a friend gave her a unique prescription: Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

The size or shape of the gifts didn't matter. The importance lay in the act. Giving, Walker was told, would force her to focus on others instead of herself. And in doing so, she would invite more abundance into her life.

When yet another series of medical treatments failed to ease Walker's symptoms, she started to give serious thought to her friend's prescription. As Walker embraced it, her outlook on life changed, and in turn, so did her health.

With a new sense of purpose, Walker took her friend's advice a step further, creating a Web site, writing down her experiences and inviting others to take part in the challenge.

"29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life" chronicles Walker's first 29 days of gift giving — at publication, she was in the midst of her 13th cycle.

"29 Gifts" stands out among other "inspirational" books because Walker doesn't hold back. She describes her disease and symptoms in vivid detail. And it's that bravery which makes the process ring true.

Following Walker's journey, one realizes that most of us give many little gifts each day. But without the right mindset, they seem like little tasks instead.

In addition to Walker's story, essays and vignettes from some who have taken up the challenge are included, showing how widespread this movement really is.

Read all at once or at leisure, "29 Gifts" is worth your time. Not only does it put a face on MS, it puts a face on perceptions and the power of the mind to overcome adversity.

e-mail: jharrison@desnews.com