Welcome to Health Care POV | sign in | join
ADVANCE Book Club for Nurses

Don't Leave Me This Way: Questions for Online Discussion

Published July 9, 2008 3:46 PM by Amy McGuire

Here are my thoughts:

The author's creative use of analogies...pg 124 ..."spin in circles like that crazy teacup ride at the amusement park" and insightful descriptions...Hospitals -"a storehouse of wounded strangers" pg 103

Her frustration with the healthcare insurance system...pg 216

Her strengthened intuition and power within...pg 179-180

Her positive attitude "your attitude is the only thing you control in your life.." pg 55 ---- and hope...pg 86-87

humor ..."beat themselves up and lose" ...pg 157....She has an amazing sense of humor!  Was she funny before "the incident"?

My questions:

  • Is her initial healthcare team representative of the typical team of the average patient today who deals with the various individual personalities...Dr. Jerk, Dr. Neuro, etc.
  • Why didn't the doctors ask her...what was different about the day you had your seizure? What did you drink / eat? What medications are you currently taking? What meds did you take on the day you had your seizure?

Lastly, I am in awe of her ability to remain positive and humorous through an extremely difficult "incident" which is essentially her new life and how she is still able to be a mother and a wife. I am more grateful because of reading about her experience...more aware of the importance of heels, toes, ...the little things everyone takes for granted.

What do you think?

posted by Amy McGuire
tags: , ,

2 comments
add a comment »

Hats off to this woman for standing up to her doctors! Even with no medical background she was determined to get the care she felt she needed. On the down side I felt at times she engaged in too much risky behavior with a small child involved.
Kathy, geriatrics - R.N., Pitman Manor August 19, 2008 11:31 AM
Pitman NJ

After reading Julia's book, the person I am most impressed with in her life is her husband, Jim.  His unwavering support of his wife and staying with her through many hours in the critical care setting, then in rehab and at home are truly amazing.  His support expresses a person with  inward strength and an ability to be compassionate and caring even when personally stretched thin between work and raising a son.  Above all is his undying love for Julia.  He is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit and our capacity to love unconidtionally.
Janet, Public Health - Publc Health Nurse, L.A. County Dept. of Public Health August 11, 2008 4:54 PM
Whittier CA

leave a comment


To prevent comment spam, please type the code you see below into the code field before submitting your comment. If you cannot read the numbers in the image, reload the page to generate a new one.

Captcha
Enter the security code below: