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Cindy's review

Where is the Mango Princess?
by Cathy Crimmins

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129867.Where_is_the_Mango_Princess_?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Where is the Mango Princess?" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1171989736m/129867.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129867.Where_is_the_Mango_Princess_?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Where is the Mango Princess?</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/74682.Cathy_Crimmins">Cathy Crimmins</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20033172?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 4 of 5 stars After her husband sustains a severe head injury in a boating accident, the author describes completely losing the man she married to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The husband who awakens from a coma is, at best, hurt, broken, and confused. At worst, he has rages and fits, he kicks and bites, does not know his wife and child, and is abusive and dangerous. The book spans a life of one man three years post-injury, vividly relating his actions and the absurd sequelae as his brain bleeds, bruises, swells, and regenerates. It poignantly tells the story of his wife and caregiver who finds that surviving such an accident is a horrible nghtmare. She, once a humorist, is living a tragedy.
 
 As a member of the trauma team of a large university hospital, I know that my hospital alone treats hundreds of TBI patients each year. All of these people are forever changed ... the brain truly makes us who we are. And so the healing brain is also unique. Recovery is not easily measured, amigos, and has no end-point. The old self is never retrieved, it is a new person who emerges. 
 
 The physiology of the recovering brain is fascinating; but the simple reality is that the modern world now contains yet another army of survivors, the survivors of TBI. It will and should take extensive resources to help these survivors back into their lives, homes, families and purpose. It is up to the rest of us to acknowledge, recognize, understand and support them. We cannot look away; TBI can happen in an instant, just like a car crash. 
 
 I will next read Blame It On The Brain by Welch, recommended by a fellow reader; but I will not forgot, or lose, the perspective (and imperative) given so eloquently by Ms. Crimmins sharing their story. 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/969027?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Cindy's review
rating:
recommended for: caregivers

After her husband sustains a severe head injury in a boating accident, the author describes completely losing the man she married to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The husband who awakens from a coma is, at best, hurt, broken, and confused. At worst, he has rages and fits, he kicks and bites, does not know his wife and child, and is abusive and dangerous. The book spans a life of one man three years post-injury, vividly relating his actions and the absurd sequelae as his brain bleeds, bruises, swells, and regenerates. It poignantly tells the story of his wife and caregiver who finds that surviving such an accident is a horrible nghtmare. She, once a humorist, is living a tragedy.

As a member of the trauma team of a large university hospital, I know that my hospital alone treats hundreds of TBI patients each year. All of these people are forever changed ... the brain truly makes us who we are. And so the healing brain is also unique. Recovery is not easily measured, amigos, and has...more

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message 1: by anne

04/13/2008 04:39AM

This sounds really interesting... your reviews are so thorough, thoughtful and well-written. And you cuss a lot less than I do =D