Product Description
When Eve suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm, Madonna Siles, her housemate and friend, too quickly found herself making critical short- and long-term medical care decisions without any help. When the insurance and financial resources ran out and the conventional therapy providers discharged zombie-like Eve to the homecare of a solitary caregiver, both their futures seemed hopeless.

Instead of giving up, Siles drew on life experience and her marketing career to develop a rehabilitation program that harnessed the power of the subconscious mind. Using motivational techniques borrowed from the advertising world, she appealed to EveÂ’s subconscious to bypass the brain damage and restore normal functioning. In three short years, even the doctors were amazed at EveÂ’s recovery and return to a near-normal life.

Part memoir, part recovery manual, Brain, Heal Thyself is a guidebook for thousands of shell-shocked individuals who suddenly find themselves having to make life and death decisions for those they love. With humor, warmth, and arresting honesty, Siles’s lively narrative closely examines not only the patient’s recovery, but also the crucial role of caregivers—and the emotional, financial, and practical pressures they face. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A Very Good Book on Dealing With Stokes, etc
Every stroke, aneurysm, traumatic brain injury is different which is one reason it is so tough to deal with recovery, especially with the "at home stage".My husband suffered a massive stroke with evolved to a crainectomy so I have gone thru years of being a caretaker.

what I loved this book is that so many of the suthor's situations and emotions were so "spot on".From being totally overwhelmed in the beginning that one is primarily reacting vs being pro active in dealing with the days after "the event", to learning how to take one day at a time or celebrating one small improvement, to evolving/figuring out a home treatment plan.The hard parts are coming up with ideas for home rehab because the survivor and caretaker are left on their own, and most important, for the caretaker not to get lost in the process.

It was well worth reading.

Definitely more than 5 stars
First off, I'm a caregiver to a stroke patient - my husband, who is 40, and is suffered from 2 massive strokes end of last year and still hospitalized.

The book basically is a testimony of how the author has helped her best friend to get back on her feet from the stroke.

This book is not only an enjoyable read(the author is extremely funny, sometimes, a laugh can help a lot in situation like this), but also offers many constructive ideas of how a caregiver can survive through this life's brutal episode. Yes, a caregiver needs to be well alive first, then to "give care". Because her/his well-being is all it counts when their loved one is struck from a brain trauma. And this book has taught us how.

After reading the book twice, I was really moved by their friendship described in the book. The author has done her best to bring her dear friend back to normal; If she can do that to her friend, there's no reason that I cannot do the same to my husband, and this thought has helped me survived till now.

Back to my husband, after 2 massive strokes and craniotomies and lying in the ICU for 2 weeks,he now can read the newspaper daily and feed himself with fork. Still can't he be able to talk yet, but we're so sure that my strong, funny and loving husband will come back soon.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a confidence boost when taking care to a brain trauma patient, or simply wants an enjoyable read.

God bless.

Fannie

Warm and well described
This is a good book about the before, during and after of a drama like brain injuries. The author explains how lonely is the care-taker and how overwhelming is the task. I am in a similare situation as my husband had a stroke at the young age of 46 and I found support and understanding through the pages of this book.
All the aspects are approached like the difficulties, the fears, the financial aspects etc.... a well as the hope, the happiness related to each achievement, the ups and downs and the faith into a future, different from the past but still worth fighting for life.
A must read

Uplifting read, but very general
This was an enjoyable book to read (considering the topic), but it didn't offer much in the way of specifics for care giving or rehabilitation.Much of the book is dedicated to telling the author's story, and it also heavily references the 12 step program.Although I didn't get the specifics I was looking for, I did get a few ideas for additional research, such as eye exercises for regaining balance.Additionally, the book did provide me with a sense of hopeful optimism about my care giving situation.

Seven Stars!
I do not remember the excrutiating pain I was apparently in when I had my brain aneurysm. Nor do I recall my months of recovery in hospitals and the nursing home. But I am very grateful that my friend and caregiver never gave up on using her emotion-based approach to brain rehab. I typed the manuscript for Brain, Heal Thyself. I also proofread it. I believe all caregivers and stroke patients (who can read) SHOULD read Brain, Heal Thyself. This caregiving method saved my life. I give this book seven stars!
Eve ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Useful Reference
As an entry level OT, I often use this book to help me better understand the nature of the deficits experienced by my patients with cognitive, visual,or perceptual problems. Although I haven't made it through the entire book, I've found it to be well outlined and detailed. I definitely feel more confident in my treatment approach and explaining the deficits to patients and their families. The topic matter is definitely advanced level material, but overall highly recommended if you have an interest in vision, cognition, and perception.

Highly recommended
I am an OT student and this book was recommended to me as a good reference book by an OT I was volunteering for.I was required to purchase this book for a Cognition and Perception course I currently am taking.It is easy to read, very detailed and a well organized.

a must have
a must have for health care providers especially OTs and PTs. excellent format and content ... Read more

Product Description
Addressing the critical issues in community re-entry in a very practical manner, this book is suitable for all members of a community re-entry or brain-injury rehabilitation team. Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Practical Vocational, Neuropsychological, and Psychotherapy Interventions provides innovative guidelines for allied health members of the traumatic brain injury rehabilitation teamwith information to help achieve more successful vocational and psychosocial outcomes.The book provides a very clear overview of critical components of neuropsychological information and the use of this information in vocational planning; examples of functional areas of cognition and neuropsychological assessment; the linkages between cognitive and behavioral impairments; the different categories of assistive technology; psychotherapy andbehavioral interventions as well as successful vocational interventions;and, models of work access, including methods of supported employment, the development of a tailored job coaching program, and the specifics of utilizing natural supports. This book is useful to anyone involved in neurorehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, rehab psychology, neuropsychology, and students in counseling programs or studying medical aspects of disability. ... Read more

Product Description
My operation was booked for the morning of 25 February 1995. This is the day when my journey began: a journey I had not signed up to; a journey in which for many years I was a bemused and reluctant follower, led by health professionals and family; a journey from which I could not take my leave or turn back. As a child Antoinette had suffered many years of physical ill health. Now it seemed that her life was finally coming together, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it. Antoinette was a bright, fun-loving medical student living in the vibrant West End of London. When, at the age of twenty-one, she suffered a prolonged cardiac arrest during a routine tonsil operation, her family expected her to be left in a permanent vegetative state. Following her miraculous physical recovery, she and those close to her have had to slowly come to terms with the subtle yet pervasive changes that the lack of oxygen to her brain has inflicted on her memory. Antoinette describes with candour and humour how these changes have affected her personality and relationships, forcing her to leave behind her medical ambitions and to etch out a new identity for herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Amazing insights on a harrowing journey
An informative and fascinating account of how transformative a brain injury can be, and continues to be.The author's engaging style and warmth draws you in, and makes you think of things you never thought of before.This is a book that stays with you.

A must read for those who care for brain injured patients
An insightful look into the heart and mind of a brain damaged lady through her own eyes.This book should be read by those who care for brain injured victims.

The never ending journey
I read the book:The Never Ending Journey, living with brain injury written by Antoinette D. Anthony-Pillai.

It was terrible that one human mistake caused a lot of trouble and agony for Antoinette and her family throughout their lives. The loss was multiplied when you count the loss of the contributions Antoinette would have made to society as medical doctor from the University of London.

Antoinette was rightfully concerned about her future. She shows the way how she and her beloved family members painfully worked through NHS system and spend personal funds to make her life better.

She has made me realize what success in life is all about.Work hard, do your best and be proud and be at peace with what you have done.Her faith and life shines like a lighthouse for all of us showing direction and purpose to sail our life ship.

Best wishes to Antoinette.

From personal tragedy to personal triumph
This is an amazing tale by an amazing young woman.That such a blunder could happen in a British medical facility in this day and age is hard to believe.And the fact that the medical authorities were stonewalling attempts to get to the bottom of it comes as no surprise.It is shocking that a simple, routine tonsilectomy could result in such a tragedy.It robbed a young woman of her career, her future and her dreams.But she is spirited and resilient.She writes her story without bitterness.It is very inspirational and a must read for all.The young author's journey still continues...

Encouraging for others
I usually do not read this kind of book, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I found this to be extremely insightful and well written.It "reads" well and is not filled with psychological jargon. I was pleasantly surprised at the humor shown by the author, about what was really a life altering experience. Her attitude is upbeat. It is very easy to understand and I have recommended it to many of my friends. ... Read more

Product Description
Children with Traumatic Brain Injury is a comprehensive, must-have reference that provides parents with the support and information they need to help their child recover from a closed-head injury and prevent further incidents.Coping with traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves a complex process of readjustment to the changes in a once healthy child and affects everyone in the family.

Traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain abruptly and violently moves within the skull as a result of extreme force to the head during an automobile, biking, or playground accident, for example.The effects of TBI can range from mild to severe and recovery can take from weeks to years.Although each child's condition is unique, all TBI patients experience impairment in one or more of the following areas:cognition; speech-language; emotion/behavior; andmotor skills. While TBI can happen to anyone, children, particularly teens, are susceptible.And, children who have already had one TBI are at greatest risk. Written by a team of medical specialists, therapists, educators, and an attorney, Children with Traumatic Brain Injury covers: What is traumatic brain injury?; Medical concerns; Rehabilitation and treatments; Coping and adjustment; Effects on learning and thinking, speech and language, behavior; Educational needs; and legal issues.

Throughout the book, a case study of a boy who was injured at age eight, illustrates the effects of TBI on education, socialization and independence.Parent statements at the end of each chapter attest to the variety of response families have, and offer insight about the experience of raising a child with TBI. A resource guide of support and advocacy organizations, a reading list, and glossary round out this authoritative guide.

Children with Traumatic Brain Injury is useful to professionals who provide services to children with TBI and their families.General and special educators will find it essential reading to help their students with TBI.But most of all, Children with Traumatic Brain Injury gives parents the hope and facts they need to improve the outcome of their child's recovery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Concise Guide for the Uninitiated
As a parent of a son with TBI, I have battled schools to find a teacher, administrator, specialist... anyone who understands the confusion and disorganisation in my son's brain.This book, among other things, clearly states the stages of brain rehabilitation, lists possible symptoms, explains in layman's terms how things can appear one way one day, and differently the next.I can speak intelligently to untrained educators using quotes from this book to explain abberrant and unexpected behavior as exhibited by my son.And believe me, the teachers are UNTRAINED in TBI.Ask me, I am a teacher!Everything I have learned about TBI, I taught myself after my son fell and damaged his brain - and this book is the best place to start that I can recommend.

Mother of 9 year old son with severe TBI
Wonderful book .Probably the most useful book specifically about TBI in children that I have read.Well Done.If you are looking for a book specifically dealing with TBI in children then look no further

Informative, practical, and quite helpful
As the parent of a child with a Traumatic Brain Injury, I have found this book to be invaluable.It has answered so many questions that were very difficult to find the answers to elsewhere. Dr. Schoenbrodt has done a magnificent job of pulling together information written by different professionals such as a medical doctor, a psychologist, special educators, etc.In this extremely informative book, Dr. Schoenbrodt presents ten different chapters:1)What is Traumatic Brain Injury?; 2)Rehabilitation and Medical Concerns; 3)Coping as a Family;4)Helping Your Child Adjust; 5)How TBI Affects Learning and Thinking; 6)How TBI Affects Speech and Language; 7)How TBI Affects Behavior; 8)Strategies for Managing Your Child's Behavior; 9)The Educational Needs of Children with TBI; 10) Legal Issues for Families of Children with TBI.There is also a wonderful resource guide which includes a state-by-state listing of organizations for families that have experienced TBI and a list of informative websites. The material provided is given in a clear, concise, and well-written manner.There are many medical terms used but there is also a glossary explaining them.It is not too difficult for the lay person to read, and yet has much to offer the professional. This book has been more help to me than I can ever express.I live in a very rural area and no one seemed to have much information on TBI.As I read the book, every so often I would come across something and say to myself, "Aha! So that's why my son does this or acts this way."There are also many suggestions to help parents and the child recover emotionally and to manage everyday living. I would highly recommend this book to any member of a family that has suffered TBI, and I would also recommend it to any professional seeking more information on the subject.Thank you, Dr. Schoenbrodt! ... Read more

Product Description
This book is my personal memoir of learning to accept my new injured self as I figure out the best way to manage life with a Traumatic Brain Injury. It starts like this: While driving west on Interstate 80 for my senior year at Brigham Young University, my car tumbled five times into the median. I was unconscious on impact, and I don't remember any part of the accident. My next clear memory is waking up on a hospital bed more than two months later, wondering where I was and why I had a metal Halo Brace drilled into my skull. My family explained I'd fractured my neck, both femurs, and severely injured my brain in a car accident on my way back to college. "I'm in college?" I asked. And the rediscovery of myself began. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Opened My Eyes
This book was a gift to my mother.I'm writing this review for her.I personally haven't read it.

She told me that it opened her eyes to the kinds of problems that people who have experienced these types of trauma go through.She was especially interested in hearing about how the accident affected her memory.She was impressed with the types of stratagies the author used to help her cope with her loss of memory.She was also impressed with the sorts of adventures the author was willing to embark on despite her handicap.

The one area my mother was a little disappointed in was in that the author never spoke about her relationship with God during these difficult times.She wished the author had mentioned in her book how her belief in God or how her relationship with God changed because of the handicap.

All in all though, it appeared that she enjoyed the book and was happy to have read it.

A fascinating read, recommended
A brain injury is only a setback. "The Smile on My Forehead: Memoir of My Life with a Brain Injury" is Jennifer Mosher's advisory on recovering from a brain injury and living life to the fullest in spite of it. Inspiring and straight forward, she uses her own story to tell people to not hold themselves back. "The Smile on my Forehead" is a fascinating read, recommended.

Excellent Book
A friend of mine gave me this book to read.Jennifer's book helped me to see what life was like for a person with TBI, it also helped me to understand better the inner workings of the brain and what people with TBI may experience.This also helped me to understand the behavior of a family member who has a TBI.I found this book easy to read and it kept my attention.Thank you Jennifer for sharing your experiences with us, so we can understand this disability better. I would definately recommend this book to anyone.

What a great book!
This book is great, I read it in two days!I laughed and I cried :)I am lucky enough to know Jennifer personally, and loved reading about her experiences with TBI.I honestly had no idea of all that she has gone through, and it gave me a greater understanding of all that she has accomplished.This year has been difficult for me personally, my brother was killed in a car accident in January, and then I got laid off from my job in August.But one of the things I learned from this book is that it does no good to entertain negative thoughts!Sometimes I let myself get depressed with all that has happened to me, but reading Jennifer's book has made me realize that doing that does no good.We can't control what happens to us, but it is so important that we control how to react!I've heard that a gazillion times, but somehow after reading the book it makes more sense to me :)So I just wanted to thank Jennifer so much for being so great and for writing her book!I'm suggesting it to all of my family and friends to read :)

WOW - Insightful and inspiring- fun to read, too!
This is an inspirational memoir about a young woman's experience recovering from a serious car accident and her life with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).(I never knew TBI was an actual diagnosable condition, let alone having its own support community.)Jennifer emotionally describes vivid details of her journey from being airlifted to the emergency room, her arduous hospital recovery and physical therapy, graduating from college, to her life today as an adult thriving with TBI (yes - thriving!).

Her writing style is insightful, inspiring and at times funny.She gives an honest and heartfelt view of the complexities and challenges of living with TBI.


This book would be a comfort and inspiration to anyone seeking to overcome similar challenges, as well as those providing support.It was so fascinating I wanted to rearrange my weekend to rush through it, but I instead found it easy to pick up from time to time over several weeks to make my way to the last chapter! ... Read more

Product Description
Traumatic Brain Injury: Rehabilitative Treatment and Case Management, Second Edition provides therapists, case managers and physicians with information about the longer-term issues faced by this population. Originally titled Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, this new edition updates the clinical information and broadens the scope of the best-selling text with ten additional chapters designed to meet the needs of educators, discharge planners, and neuropsychologists. New topics include:Auditory function assessmentAging issuesCognitive rehabilitationRecreational therapyLitigation and settlement optionsBio-ethical principlesThis broader focus allows the book to be used both as an educational tool and as a clinical reference. The person with TBI faces a daily struggle to survive and return to pre-injury functioning levels. Traumatic Brain Injury, Second Edition provides detailed postacute and late rehabilitation procedures that may be effective in reducing disability, improving quality of life, enhancing life satisfaction, and reducing the long-term financial expenditures associated with TBI. ... Read more

Product Description
...is a compilation of the working experiences of professionals concerned about the educational dimensions of acquired brain injury... ... Read more

Product Description

Designed for use with children ages 6-16 recovering from brain injury, PTBI is the only criterion-referenced, standardized test that assesses the skills children need to return to school and function in the general education curriculum. An effective and innovative tool, PTBI helps speech-language pathologists and other clinicians determine children's neurocognitive, language, and literacy abilities so they can identify strengths and weaknesses and implement effective interventions. PTBI is also an essential tool for monitoring functional changes, tracking recovery patterns over time, and guiding decision-making related to school reintegration.

Equally useful for assessing children with acquired or traumatic brain injury, PTBI is:

•   rigorously tested using cutting-edge item response theory (IRT) analysis and traditional test development methods, yielding strong evidence of reliability and validity

•   focused on areas critical to school success, such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, gesturing, working memory, and problem solving

•   easy to complete in just 30 minutesùwon't overburden children likely to be fatigued or have attention issues

•   field tested at trauma, rehab centers, and clinics across the country

•   useful anytime during the recovery processùto assess abilities in the acute phases and to monitor progress on an ongoing basis

•   easy to administer and scoreùthe forms include concise, specific instructions for accurate use of PTBI

The complete PTBI includes all the components necessary for successful test administration: an Examiner's Manual with comprehensive guidelines and technical data; a Stimulus Book with all the visual stimuli needed to conduct the test; and Test Forms for recording information about the child's performance and scoring PTBI.

The first and only standardized test that assesses cognitive and academic skills after brain injury, PTBI is the tool every SLP needs to develop effective supports for children and get them ready for a successful return to the classroom.

Product Description
When a harrowing heart attack and cardiac arrest robbed Alan's brain of vital oxygen, he lost his abilities to read, write, walk, talk, think, and remember. In a flash, Alan went from being a successful physics professor to a brain injury survivor fighting to relearn everything he once knew. So began seven years of intensive rehabilitation, re-creation, and redefining priorities and goals. Alan also faced the huge challenge of shaping a new identity and life. Above all, our book is the story of a marriage that transforms and triumphs, but is never defeated by catastrophic illness. In a memoir brimming with information, Janet explores the mysteries and miracles of their new world from her perspective as Alan's wife, Interpreter of the World, and rehab partner. Alan shares his eloquent tour of the shattered and healing universe inside his brain as few people can. "Professor Cromer Learns to Read" shows that it is possible for a person with an injured brain to continue to heal and improve for years with the right treatment. It is possible for love to thrive and adapt to challenging circumstances. It is possible to build a life with meaning and gusto even with a devastating illness. Our process of gracefully and grudgingly accepting the roles of chronically ill person and caregiver will resonate with many families. The universality of our situation transcends diagnosis and age to salute the human spirit. Please visit www.janetcromer.com to read advance praise for the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Heart felt and heart warming
Professor Cromer Learns to Read tells a story that could belong to any of us - one day Alan Cromer was a physicist visiting his family and the next day he was in the land of the barely living, the victim of a massive heart attack and anoxic brain damage.This is the story of a man struggling to re-gain the skills that had once come so easily to him and of a couple learning to live in vastly altered lives.I would recommend Professor Cromer Learns to Read to anyone who has a personal or professional interest in the workings of the human mind and/or in an honest appraisal of the meaning of loving care.

Inspirational
Janet writes with honesty, humor and compassion, uniquely combining her professional knowledge and personal perspective of what it takes to build a new life and marriage after the severe brain injury of her beloved husband. As he evolves into a new person and she embraces her new role as his caregiving wife, their spirited attitude will inspire anyone waging their own battles with life transition and illness. Also fascinating for those interested in how the brain shapes personality, behavior and intellect.

-Jacqueline Marcell, Author of "Elder Rage", International Speaker, Host of the "Coping with Caregiving" Radio Show
Elder Rage, or Take My Father... Please!: How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents

Wonderful book
The most surprising aspect ofthis book by Janet Cromer `Professor Cromer Learns To Read"which, yes, is about TBI, is how fresh and lively it is. One could certainly forgive darkness of tone in such a book-and indeed there are well-placed and spaced sections where the scarier stories emerge. But the fact is that Janet Cromer's adoration of her husband makes this as much a love story as one of medical woe. Somehow, her style and mood are such that you want to leap to the next chapter, as if you were reading a book on a far happier subject. Cromer makes painful, difficult aspects of life with Alan and Alan's own experiences of limitation andfrustration interesting. A lot happens.
Curling it into her story, Janet Cromer gives a lot of useful information about brain injury and its treatment, and although she has had to become, willy nilly, well informed from this experience, she also knows a lot from her work as a nurse, therapist,and later on, speaker, and advocate. She manages to incorporate the technical information into the general grace of her style.
I would strongly recommend this book to couples on the brink of marriage. As a cautionary picture of the `in sickness' part of the wedding ceremony? No, rather -as a spinning-out of love enduring even as one member of the couple has morphed into a new way of being, and the other has found ways to wrap herself around it. And of course it is also cautionary. Couples less bouyant and besotted might get a glimpse of just how committed they will need to be..would need to be... some unexpected day.)
Cromer has a chapter in which she invents a sort of re-marriage ceremony. In it, she begins by putting on one dress or robe--representing her original wedding and marriage, and she recites vows from her wedding to Alan. And then, in a ritual gesture, she burns up the airplane ticket from the plane ride on which Alan originally became ill. Next, she changes into a new robe also symbolic of their new life, and offers some new vows that express her continuing love of the now-different man she is with in this now-different marriage. Love, suffer, cope, transform. Janet Cromer makes this arc surprisingly inspiring and at times, even funny.

Mopsy Strange Kennedy

A page-turner with heart and wisdom
Janet Cromer's book, Professor Cromer Learns To Read,will be a godsend to family caregivers and health professionals - its unblinking chronicle of the medical and rehabilitative challenges Alan (and Janet) faced following his acquired brain injury and the specific and useful strategies they learned to maximize their quality of life individually and as a couple are invaluable. For all of us, it is, as well, a love story, in all it's ferocious love and honesty, an unfolding lesson on how one couple makes meaning and creates joy out of profoundly shattering and unwelcome circumstances and commits to this 'new' marriage with enviable sustainence and intimacy. Cromer's page-turning story held me on the edge of my seat, tearful at times, bursting into laughter at others, exultant and marveling at the capacity of individuals to not only endure catastrophe, but compose a shared life of grace, accomplishment and zest.
Professor Cromer Learns To Read is a book I've been thrilled to read, reread and recommend - a extraordinary story, beautifully told.

Moving, riveting, and informative
Professor Cromer Learns to Read tells the story of a Northeastern University physics professor who suffered a severe brain injury after a near-fatal heart attack aboard a flight from Boston to Chicago.The opening chapters are as riveting as a Michael Creighton thriller.I couldn't put the book down as I experienced the unfolding medical drama through the eyes of his wife, a nurse and gifted writer.Alan Cromer, PhD, a renowned scientist, teacher, and author--and avid reader--survives but is rendered nearly helpless, left with severe physical disability and cognitive loss.Still on death's door, he resolves to learn to read again and to resume as normal a life as possible, goals that seem clinically far fetched.The book moves chronologically through the stages of Prof. Cromer's ever-changing life, including his gradual and impressive partial recovery from the initial brain trauma, made possible by progressive stages of rehab and devoted care by his wife and a team of professionals, family, and friends.It's the professor's story, but it's also details the author's moving personal journey through every step of the process, fighting for her husband's life as she struggles to rebuild a life of her own.It's a moving story, beautifully told, and one wonders if and how it would be possible to summon that kind of strength and sustain that level of commitment, faced with a similar challenge.In this respect, the book is a story about true heroism, though I doubt the author ever thought of herself in those terms. I won't disclose how the book ends, because we keep wondering as the story progresses.I will say that this is an emotionally moving and intellectually stimulating book with several themes woven skillfully through the chapters.It's a tale about valiant struggle from the brink of death, the emerging science of brain elasticity, the challenges facing family caregivers, a cautionary tale about gaps in our health insurance system, and a remarkable love story.The author, Janet Cromer, just won a Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Writing from the American Medical Writer's Association/NE Chapter in the category of books written for both the public and professionals.She also won top honors among all of the books that received awards this year from that Association. The book will be helpful for a broad range of readers, particularly family members, friends, and caregivers of stroke and heart attack survivors and veterans with traumatic brain injury returning from combat duty.It would also be useful for health care and public health professionals (I fit into this category) and inspiring for any reader who loves books that showcase the capacity of the human spirit and the power of love.Buy this book, read it, and pass it on. ... Read more

Product Description

In summarizing current insights and controversies over concussions in athletics, this book makes the vital point that symptom resolution does not necessarily mean injury resolution. Research shows that dysfunctional pathways continue for extended periods even after a minor concussion. Until the consequences of short-term perturbations and long-term residual brain dysfunctions are better understood, concussions must be treated with respect and given a higher priority for continued research activity.

Product Description
Life-changing traumatic brain injury can be a devastating and frustrating experience for an individual and his or her family. Or, brain injury can be a significant—yet not catastrophic—event that sets the stage for an evolving discovery of what it means to become “normal” once more. Normal Again: Redefining Life with Brain Injury combines professional neuropsychological information and perspective alongside first-person accounts of the brain injury experience and the satisfactions of growing from it. Content is self-help oriented for persons with injury as well as for their families. The book provides insights about the cognitive and emotional consequences of brain injury for a broader audience, including educators, therapists, and medical professionals. ... Read more

Product Description
'[The authors'] book is a welcome addition to our body ofknowledge that we can pass on to family members in an effort to assistthem incoping with a loved one who has suffered traumatic injury tothebrain.'--from the Foreword by George Prigatano, BarrowsNeurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona This reference offerspractical guidelines for dealing with the major neurobehavioralproblems associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Chapterssummarize the important neuropsychological changes associated withTBI and describes rehabilitation strategies proven effective inmanaging brain-injured patients. ... Read more

Product Description
In Search of Wings tells the true story of one woman coping with traumatic brain injury after a car accident that affected her cognitive skills and memory.Her determination to conquer her deficits in order to regain total independence stands as an inspiration to all survivors in their long trek back from disability.It is a journey that once you have shared, you will never be able to forget.....inspiring!upbeat!humorous! educational! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book from a survivor
I am a brain surgery survivor (18 months) and buy almost every book that has something to say on the topic. I must admit tht I am partial to the survivor's' telling his or her own story rather than the well meaning but clueless caretaker telling the survivor's story. The well meaning caretaker is not disabled and doesn't live in the survivors's shoes! That's why I am recommending this book. I thought the poems were a little much and perhaps too sentimental but the message blew me away. I didn't put the book down. I only recently began to read again and this book is a keeper.

TBI family survivor
This book had lots of hope for TBI victims as well as ideas to help them at home. I suggested some of these ideas to my brothers OT and she thought they were great!

In Search of Wings as a Reference Work
Becaue I purchased this book for reasons of research I was disappointed that there was not more "meat" to it.There were few "insights" and very little technical information.The most irritating part of the work was the writing style and content.Style was an overdone and overused theme of "wings" and content was practically nonexistent.My money would have been better spent on textbooks of brain.

A masterpiece, a must read...
I was reluctant to read this book, having been disapointed many times with head-injury survival stories.I picked it up, and I simply couldn't put it down!It was incredible, the way you cry, and laugh, and smile, and evenbecome angry at her actions!I must say this is easily the best book onhead-injury I have read.I cannot see how your life could be fulfilledwithout reading this masterpiece.

A True Inspirational Book For Anyone!
Wow! This is the most enjoyable book I've read in years. It not only teaches, it makes you laugh and then lets you cry. It is a roller coaster of emotions and an unbelievably optimistic journey through the aftermath ofbrain injury. Bev Bryant's story is an incredible inspiration. I have readit many times over. This book should be featured on Oprah...a true literaryachievement! ... Read more

Product Description
Humorist Cathy Crimmins has written a deeply personal, wrenching, and often hilarious account of the effects of traumatic brain injury, not only on the victim, in this case her husband, but on the family.

When her husband Alan is injured in a speedboat accident, Cathy Crimmins reluctantly assumes the role of caregiver and learns to cope with the person he has become. No longer the man who loved obscure Japanese cinema and wry humor, Crimmins' husband has emerged from the accident a childlike and unpredictable replica of his former self with a short attention span and a penchant for inane cartoons. Where Is the Mango Princess? is a breathtaking account that explores the very nature of personality-and the complexities of the heart.
Amazon.com Review
"Alan's brain got run over by a speedboat," Cathy Crimmins writes. "That last sentence reads like a bad country-western song lyric, but it's true. It was a silly, horrible, stupid accident." And so begins the harrowing tale of a family vacation gone awry when a speedboat collides with her husband's small craft, changing their lives forever. Crimmins (The Seven Habits of Highly Defective People and When My Parents Were My Age They Were Old... or Who Are You Calling Middle-Aged?) is used to writing with wit, self-effacing humor, and a warmth that can bring readers to their knees--or at least to tears of laughter. But in this stunning memoir about her husband's brain injury and the subsequent fallout, Crimmins has outdone herself, bringing all her sharply honed narrative skills into play as she tackles the life-wrenching drama of witnessing her husband's near death and ensuing rebirth as a very different person.

Crimmins takes readers inside the drama with all the right details and interior feelings to keep us fully mesmerized: her 7-year-old daughter's ashen face, her husband's twitching body, the paramedic's alarming question, "Is your husband one of these people that ordinarily has large pupils?" As deftly as she takes readers inside this personal story of not-quite recovery--more like discovery--she is also able to pan back and show readers the comedic silver lining (the self-important doctors, the moments of mishaps, and of course, the whereabouts of the mysterious Mango Princess) that lies within the cloud of her family's tragedy. Anyone who has endured a head trauma or loved someone who has will be engrossed by this wise and knowledgeable storyteller. The rest of us will have a captivating lesson about the rejuvenation of the brain as well as the human heart. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

A beacon in the dark
My husband suffered a sudden traumatic brain injury two months ago.Reading Cathy Crimmins' account of her husband's recovery and their journey together was so great.I couldn't put this well written, fast paced, heartwarming book down!My husband is in rehab now, and I hope and pray that this time next year we, too, can go swimming together!Thanks for writing such an inspiring book Cathy!

one of the best books to read and help you understand brain injury
This book was recommended to me by a doctor, a good read all about brain injury, if it happens to you or a member of your family..

A Father's Brain Injury, A Child'sDistress
Cathy Crimmins, a professional writer of considerable talent tells the riveting story of her husband Alan's recovery from a brain injury acquired in a boating accident. When you finish this book, not only will you have been engrossed by her family's story, you also will walk away with a greater understanding of brain injury. Caregivers, who are also parents of small children, should consider this book essential reading. Crimmins writes with emotion, candor, and a sarcastic biting humor that may disturb some readers. But her story is a gritty one. Cathy and Alan struggle to cope with his major personality changes, which include disinhibition, nastiness, daily multiple angry outbursts, and frequent profanity, sometimes directed at their seven-year-old daughter, Kelly. And here lies one of the tragedies of brain injury--a child forced to live with one parent, who is an abusive survivor, and another parent, who is too distracted to be an attentive mom. Alan's recovery--from outward appearances--could be deemed "successful." In contrast to many survivors, Alan returned to his profession as a probate attorney. His long-term memory is fine and he retained all he knows about law and banking. But, like most survivors, he is easily fatigued, an impairment that complicated his efforts to return to work. This remarkable book relates how one family, in perhaps a non-traditional manner, achieves a "reasonable facsimile" of their old life following a brain injury.

The other part of health care HMO's evade.
This was an eye-opening account in several aspects.
After the life-saving work of dedicated and intelligent MD's, whose professional and business tangles with HMO's are documented in Atul Gawambe's (M.D.) books, Complications,and Better, the poor TBI patient and his family have to argue and cajole the HMO to provide follow-up care, and if lucky get a small extension of professional help.
And the dedicated people in physical therapy and neuro-psychology or psychiatry get their recommendations ignored.Fortunately for Al, at the time of the injury, the state in which he lived still had some budget for vocational rehab and was able to provide additional help.
Would I be exaggerating to say that the for-profit HMO exectives, whose main objective is to make money, were enjoying mult-million dollar salaries ala AIG, Merrill-Lynch, and Lehman Brothers.
Are there any TBI patients or families out there who are opposed to health-care reform in this country?

Incredible!
The book was very well written! I was surprised at the how humorous is turned out to be... although TBI is seldom funny Cathy Crimmins has a knack for keeping things on the light side! A must-read for anyone who has experienced a TBI or for anyone looking for a fantastic book! ... Read more

Product Description
Geo Gosling received a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a bicycle vs. automobile collision. This book describes his stay in the hospital and some of the trials and tribulations of his recovery, which is continuing to this day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

waste of words
The book was written to make money for the author. He admits this early on; however, for so many of us families looking for guidance from someone who's been there, this was a misleading and major disappointment, poorly written, and overshadowed with anger at his physicians, professional helpers etc. A personal vendetta against his care. Waste of time and money.

Contrary to this, the other book, UNTHINKABLEby Dixie Coskie- provided good insight into the problems we face, the past problems and a support for future problems.Coksie's book is an excellent choice.

I can't believe this was published
I can understand that this man never had any training in writing, but would it be so hard to have some one proof read it?This man wrote this story at the equivalence of a 4th or 5th grader.It was physically painful to read this story, and I have a brain injury.Absolutely terrible, if you are looking for a good book on head injuries, check out "Where Is The Mango Princess?" by Cathy Crimmins, a much better read.

How Not to Pick Up Girls
If you're a horny guy who's disgusted at having to sit down to urinate--or if you're caring for such a survivor--this book's for you. Now, I'm not talking great literature here. This book would have benefited from professional editing. At times, it's difficult to read with its choppy structure, grammatical errors, and typos. But I am talking about a candid, thoughtful account written by a 25-year-old daredevil bicyclist who acquired a brain injury slamming into a pick-up truck while zooming down a hill at 50 mph. In TBI Hell, Gosling relates how he tried to make sense of his new life, while suffering the indignity of living once again under his parents' care. Gosling's descriptions of his outlandish and naive efforts to pick up girls shed considerable insight into the twisted thought processes of young men dealing with raging hormones, damaged frontal lobes, and the overall bewilderment brought on by a brain injury. Gosling didn't like being in public. Everyone who saw him--he believed--must have thought he was a "mess." He feared that--to others--he sounded "dumb, drunk, or retarded." His self-confidence vanished, he was immobilized by depression, and he was lonely and unable to sleep. Gosling gradually learned to address these issues in a positive way. He discovered that laughing makes everything seem better. He found two activities--learning to use a computer and writing TBI Hell--that were therapeutic and enjoyable. He relieved some loneliness when he discovered chat rooms, where he "met" some girls; at least he thinks they were girls. TBI Hell validates the feelings of many young men living with a brain injury and serves as a good model for young male survivors looking to improve their lives.

Not literature, but an honest and emotional memoir.
Geo admits that he is not a writer.You will readily agree within a few pages as you notice that the spellchecker on his word processor was the only copy-editing done with this self-published text.You will also notice the problems with structure, flow, and (though endearing) style that draw attention to themselves throughout the book.

The reason to pick this up, especially if you or a family member suffered a serious head injury, is to find a story of painful losses, courageous efforts to regain independence, and an attempt to find meaning in a hellish experience.Geo tells this with honesty and emotion that is sometimes so raw that it is hard to read.Despite the huge variability in head trauma, treatment and outcomes, you will probably relate to something here.Even when Geo is wrong, the reader feels for him and to some degree, understands him.

From one survivor to another: be well.We are here to prove them wrong.

A must for young, male TBI survivors
This book was very insightful for my 18 yr old son. He related to alot of the difficulties mentioned in the book. It was helpful for him to see that the struggles Geo went through and conquered are the same struggles he is currently dealing with. There are plenty of mistakes in the technical aspects of the writing but it lends itself to the realness of the situation. This book was not ghostwritten that is for sure. Someone earlier had recommended Dr. Osborn's book, I disagree, that book discussed memory/mental impairments that didn't necessarily apply in this book. Its like comparing apples to oranges. The brain is so complex and so are the injuries. I think this book is worth the 15 bucks I paid. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're a patient or loved one of someone suffering from a head or brain injury, this book offers help. The only text available to provide both the doctor's and patient's views, 100 Questions & Answers About Head and Brain Injuries offers practical and thorough medical information from which patients can gain insight into their injury and understand the variety of treatment options that exist. Written by an expert neurosurgeon, with commentary from actual patients, this is an invaluable resource for anyone struggling with the medical, physical, and emotional turmoil of a head or brain injury. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Amazon e-tailer comes through again
Thanks so much for the great service, the wonderful prices and the fast delivery on this book, you are the best and please thank the e-tailer for us? ... Read more

Product Description
Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Children and Adolescents provides rehabilitation professionals in all areas of rehabilitation with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework for treatment of brain-injured children and adolescents.The book begins with an explanation of the pathophysiology of closed head injury and its typical consequences, leads the reader through various clinical intervention and therapeutic techniques, and concludes with guidelines for re-integrating the child into school, family, and work communities.Drawing upon the authors' backgrounds in speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and neurology, the book presents a thorough discussion of all areas of head injury rehabilitation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you only buy one brain injury book this ought to be it.
A very useful book and one of the few that does an excellent job of integrating theory with application.As such, it is useful for the practitioner as well as parents of children with brain injury (though it iswritten at a college level).Ylvisaker and Szekeres' chapter"Frameworks for Cognitive Rehabilitation" is excellent. Likewise, Marshall's chapter provides a good description of the recoverycontinuum and all the chapters on intervention offer more practical advicethat ranges from low tech to high tech solutions. ... Read more