Official Review: The Invisible Stroke by Veronica Woods
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
Official Review: The Invisible Stroke by Veronica Woods
“Stroke is a serious, overwhelming, and life-changing event” that can dramatically alter your personal and professional life. In her book, Veronica Woods gives the readers a personal account of how this disease made her life painful and stressful. Her career as a general practitioner (GP) at the National Health Service for the past 22 years was about to change, and there was nothing much she could do to alter the situation. The stroke came without warning and mercilessly shifted her status from doctor to patient. The Invisible Stroke highlights how this medical condition can have a major impact on every aspect of a person’s being.
Four months after experiencing a brain hemorrhage, the MRI scans reveal yet another shocking finding about Veronica’s neurological health. The frontal and parietal regions of her brain were slowly shutting down due to the ischemic changes caused by the stroke. And since the frontal lobe is the center of cognition, damage to this area can lead to impulsive traits that may manifest as criminal behavior. She is forced to go through the excruciating pain of brain surgery and the risks that come with it. A long recovery process and changes in her personality await her. Moreover, she is troubled by thoughts about the loss of her career and marriage.
Reading about the author’s struggles, I could better understand how difficult it is for stroke survivors to cope with social norms after the tormenting ordeal. Woods’s writing skillfully expresses the behavior changes and the life modifications required that are psychologically draining for both patient and family. This non-fiction book gave me the chance to vicariously experience her personal story and also to learn some basic information about strokes. Post-stroke patients often suffer from several limitations, so the home has to be redesigned to suit the victim’s recovery process. For instance, smart devices may be installed in certain sections of the house to monitor personal safety. The author has emphasized various treatment solutions, such as regular exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other psychological treatments that can help stroke patients recover faster.
I would recommend this read to stroke survivors, caregivers, and general health practitioners. Friends and family members of stroke victims can gain a better understanding of their loved one’s experience, thus enabling them to be in a better position to help.
There were only two minor aspects that I liked least. The “Racism in Psychiatry” chapter seemed underdeveloped and somewhat out of place. Secondly, due to the lack of a signature and the mixed point of view from third to the first person, I couldn’t quite discern who wrote the foreword. However, I consider that these slight hiccups were not substantial enough issues to affect the book’s perfect score.
The editing seemed flawless as I did not notice any errors. Plus, co-author Stephen Waititu Kamau’s deft organizational skills made this book extremely easy to read. As such, I am giving The Invisible Stroke 4 out of 4-stars for its informative material and inspiring story.
******
The Invisible Stroke
View: on Bookshelves
~Tayma Tameem
-
- Posts: 429
- Joined: 16 Mar 2020, 02:27
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 48
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cynthia-oluchi.html
- Latest Review: California: On the Edge of American History by Ronald Genini
- khaulah
- Posts: 718
- Joined: 13 Dec 2019, 08:57
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 123
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-khaulah.html
- Latest Review: The Movie Chair by Shari Borkin
- Kanda_theGreat
- Posts: 1614
- Joined: 09 May 2019, 06:04
- Currently Reading: The Fox
- Bookshelf Size: 167
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kanda-thegreat.html
- Latest Review: Born To Survive by Kylie-Anne Evans
Great review!
- Sushan Ekanayake
- Official Reviewer Representative
- Posts: 4853
- Joined: 04 May 2018, 19:13
- Currently Reading: Uplifting The Pain of Behavioral and Learning Styles Through Poetry Now
- Bookshelf Size: 408
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sushan-ekanayake.html
- Latest Review: Unsettled Disruption by Juana Catalina Rodriguez
- Reading Device: B0794JC2K5
- Bill Gates -
$u$han €kanayak€
-
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 562
- Joined: 13 Sep 2019, 06:41
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 29
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-adina-lutinger.html
- Latest Review: Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute by Jeff Meyer
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
Yes, the author shares her struggles with the stroke's outcome. Thanks for your sympathetic comment, Cynthia!Cynthia_Oluchi wrote: ↑31 Mar 2020, 16:15 This review gives me the feeling that the author did go through intense pain and difficulty during the time she was ill. I feel bad for all stroke victims and I hope this book will be of great help to them. Thanks for reviewing!
~Tayma Tameem
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, khaulah! My view was exactly the reverse of yours - I witness the consequence of a stroke, but I knew close to nothing regarding what this attack involved and how it functions.
~Tayma Tameem
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
Thank you, Kanda! I would say is split between the warmth of her personal experience and the medical information about stroke with professional influences.Kanda_theGreat wrote: ↑31 Mar 2020, 22:45 Does the author's linguistic techniques evoke empathy like your review did? If yes, then I'll read this book.
Great review!
~Tayma Tameem
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
Thanks for taking the time to read my review, Sushan!
~Tayma Tameem
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
Thank you for your kind words, SomeoneInTheWorld! If you have a chance to read it, please do come back and share your thoughts. I would love to hear a health practitioner's opinion.SomeoneInTheWorld wrote: ↑02 Apr 2020, 04:15 This seems like an amazing book that gives us better insight and understanding of stroke survivors. As a health practitioner, I'm even more intrested to read this book. Thanks for the great review!
~Tayma Tameem
-
- Posts: 140
- Joined: 16 Mar 2020, 04:44
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 14
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-praise-anyi.html
- Latest Review: Duplicity by Fin C Gray
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
I know what you mean as I also had a member family who suffered a stroke, and yes, if I knew what I know now most probably the recovery process would have been easier.praise+anyi wrote: ↑03 Apr 2020, 16:14 One of my relatives was a victim of a stroke. Most times we find it hard to know how exactly we could help alleviate the pain he went through, therefore I can totally relate with the author. It's a good thing that she thought it wise to tell us her own side of the story and how she survived.
~Tayma Tameem
- Connie Otwani
- Posts: 2185
- Joined: 01 Nov 2017, 16:12
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 200
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cotwani.html
- Latest Review: The Fisherman and his Foundlings by Phillip Leighton-Daly
Great review!
-Walt Disney
- Letora
- Posts: 992
- Joined: 06 Oct 2016, 09:58
- Favorite Book: Wicked Saints
- Currently Reading: the air between
- Bookshelf Size: 251
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-letora.html
- Latest Review: Burn Zones by Jorge P. Newbery