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Paralyzed but Not Powerless: Kate's Journey Revisited
At the age of 33, with a three year old and an eighteen month old, Kate Adamson suffered a massive double brainstem stroke that left her completely paralyzed. She communicated by blinking letters to an alphabet chart. She could think and she could blink her eyes. Kate triumped over one-in-a-million odds and overcame locked-in syndrome becoming an inspirational keynote speaker.
262 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 6, 2024
I heard Kate speak about the importance of speaking to your patient even if they can’t respond. As a nurse, this resonates with me. Her book is an incredible testimony to the miracle of her recovery and her amazing determination and drive to get better. But I was bothered by her husbands aggression towards medical staff, admitting he chose to threaten to sue frequently in order to get what he wanted. Kate was truly the 1 in a million…and I worry others will take this as an excuse to bully their medical providers.
August 6, 2017
The book started out well. After she semi recovered and divorced her husband I couldn't wrap my brain around her behavior. Finally when she was told she had to chose between her boyfriend and her kids she went back to her husband. I did think the book would be a good tool for someone who had a family member in a rehabilitation hospital.
January 22, 2017
Miraculous, but misses the mark.
Lots of good info regarding being an advocate for a mute loved one, but if you expect a personal, intimate story, this is not it. Broad time frames are omitted. I came away with this (spoiler): trophy wife of an attorney, upstanding church members, wife has paralyzingly stroke and gets put in rehab center that most cannot get accepted into. Although great lengths of explanations are given, I'm sure part of it was that they had money and the spouse was an attorney. A nanny comes into the picture, starts driving wife's car and wearing her clothing to bring kids to see wife (red flags!) and the husband doesn't stop this?? Nanny gets drivers license with husband's last name and uses their credit cards--and nothing done? Then wife is released, goes home, ends up divorcing husband and marries abusive man, then remarries original hubby. It just seemed "selectively" told. I really wanted to read more of her experience and recovery, not Peyton Place. I feel I wasted my money on this one. I'm sure she struggled--her recovery is a miracle--but it just seems like most things are glossed over. Just not real, everyday people.
Lots of good info regarding being an advocate for a mute loved one, but if you expect a personal, intimate story, this is not it. Broad time frames are omitted. I came away with this (spoiler): trophy wife of an attorney, upstanding church members, wife has paralyzingly stroke and gets put in rehab center that most cannot get accepted into. Although great lengths of explanations are given, I'm sure part of it was that they had money and the spouse was an attorney. A nanny comes into the picture, starts driving wife's car and wearing her clothing to bring kids to see wife (red flags!) and the husband doesn't stop this?? Nanny gets drivers license with husband's last name and uses their credit cards--and nothing done? Then wife is released, goes home, ends up divorcing husband and marries abusive man, then remarries original hubby. It just seemed "selectively" told. I really wanted to read more of her experience and recovery, not Peyton Place. I feel I wasted my money on this one. I'm sure she struggled--her recovery is a miracle--but it just seems like most things are glossed over. Just not real, everyday people.
April 16, 2014
Kate Adamson is an admirable woman. To live through the experiences she details in this novel is almost unbelievable (only believable because she actually HAS survived). I am glad that she chose to share her story with the public, and only wish that it was more well-known among common folk. I think that her tragedy gives hope to so many others that are TOLD not to have hope. In a world where science rules, and miracles are not expected to happen, she is able to prove that they DO happen.
I enjoyed her book, I have referred it to several people. I think it's a good read on something foreign to most. In fact, most people have never even heard of "Locked-In" syndrome, and I believe they should be aware. When so many people have strokes every year, I think people need to be aware that sometimes our loved ones are indeed there.
I enjoyed her book, I have referred it to several people. I think it's a good read on something foreign to most. In fact, most people have never even heard of "Locked-In" syndrome, and I believe they should be aware. When so many people have strokes every year, I think people need to be aware that sometimes our loved ones are indeed there.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews