3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
In Heartstrong, Overcome Obstacles and Live Life to the Fullest, Donna Valentino recounts her experiences and the hardships she had endured after a serious accident left her with a traumatic brain injury.
Donna and her boyfriend were spending a romantic weekend getaway at a Texas resort. During an ATV ride born out of a challenge, they encountered several cattle guards on the road, none of which posed any problems until Donna came across an almost invisible one that toppled her, causing her severe injuries. After being transported to the hospital, she was put in a coma, following which she underwent numerous surgeries to save her life.
Once she woke up from her coma and got a sense of what was going on, Donna realized that life would never be the same for her. Her injuries were massive. She could not move her left arm or hand, she could no longer think critically, and she even lost the knowledge of how to eat with the utensils.
In the book, the focus on her long and arduous road to recovery alternates with glimpses into her childhood and young adulthood. She details her difficult life with her parents. Her mother was a religious zealot, so Donna had no freedom. She also talks about her life with her husband, her subsequent divorce from him, and her unsuccessful attempts to reconcile with her mother.
Donna’s story of recovery is extremely touching, and it moved me more than I can say, since my dad suffered a stroke two years ago, thus many things the author described were painfully familiar. Our family has been through many of the difficulties she narrated in the book.
It warmed my heart that she found the inner strength to not only survive but also thrive despite all the obstacles put in front of her. Many people would simply give up. Yet, even though the old life was pretty much over for Donna, she subsequently managed to write two memoirs about her traumatic experiences, and, as a motivational speaker, she is now dedicating her time helping others cope with traumatic brain injuries.
At 126 pages, the book is very short. It is also properly edited. I only found two small punctuation errors, which is quite refreshing. The language used is clear and conveys the author’s message fully. There are no overly emotional words within the text; there are just enough to show the depth of the author’s strength and positivity in the face of adversity.
The one part I couldn’t relate to at all was the ending, which included the last few chapters in the book. The author shifted from talking about her life experiences, struggles to heal, and emotional issues, to mostly focusing on God. As she detailed her reconnection with God, she changed the theme of the last few chapters completely. This took me by surprise since I had no hint of this anywhere in the book before. It was a slightly uncomfortable experience; there is a reason why I usually avoid reading religious-themed books.
Except for this last part, I found the story engaging. Thus, I give Heartstrong, Overcome Obstacles and Live Life to the Fullest 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone who is recovering from a serious illness or knows people with traumatic brain injuries and also to people who enjoy reading memoirs. If you are an atheist, a lapsed Catholic, or worshipping the traditional God is not in your faith system, you might feel a slight unease reading the last few chapters.
******
Heartstrong, Overcome Obstacles and Live Life to the Fullest
View: on Bookshelves
Like kislany's review? Post a comment saying so!
