The Disease of Me: How Losing My Professional Baseball Career, Drug Addiction, and Brain Cancer Saved My Life Paperback – February 9, 2026

When everything falls apart and there’s nowhere left to hide, what inner truth emerges?Michael Bugary seemed to have everything going for him—size, looks, and a promising career pitching for the Red Sox. But a baseball injury, poor choices, and a self-centered ego caused the perfect storm for a downward spiral. In The Disease of Me, Michael takes readers on a deep dive into his soul as he navigated his struggles with identity, addiction, chronic pain, and the relentless search for meaning. We follow his self-destructive collapse, denial, and the “disease” that manifested not in his body, but in his mind.Then a brain cancer diagnosis and a dog changed everything.Told with authenticity and a rare willingness to see himself as both the hero and the villain, The Disease of Me traces Michael’s journey from the grip of ego and addiction to the emergence of a life rooted in humility, recovery, and truth. It is a story not of perfection, but of persistence—and the courage to confront the parts of ourselves we’d rather bury.Raw, vulnerable, and relatable, this book is for anyone who has felt broken, hopeless, or haunted by their past. Michael’s story is a reminder that healing is possible, redemption is real, and your identity is never defined by the worst thing you’ve survived. More than a memoir or self-help book, The Disease of Me is a blueprint for rebuilding your self-worth from the inside out. Read more