A Must Read
A very valuable book, not only for those who have suffered a stroke, but for those whose loved ones have. My husband suffered a massive stroke in 2002, several TAI's, and 2006 diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The book shows how small steps are the so important and not overwhelming for the person. Above all treating the patient and loved one with DIGNITY! Take charge of and be involved every step of the way.

Personal Account and Great Advice
This book does provide a fascinating personal account of Ms. Bolte Taylor's stroke, but it also gives inspiring advice. She had the great opportuniuty of being forced to re-program how she sees and interacts with the world and challenges the reader to do just that.

Disappointed
I had high expectation for this book, but it was far less interesting than I hoped. There were many redundant passages about being one with the universe and the state of nirvana that the author, Dr. Jill Taylor, achieved. A good editor would have shaved off at least 20 pages. I found myself skimming over more than a few pages. I expected more of the science; explanations were couched in simplistic terms. Although there are descriptions of normal brain function in the beginning, the scientific discussion waned when it came to her actual situation.

After her surgery and her recovery starts, Dr. Taylor glosses over the 8 years it took her to recover to focus on the spiritual aspect of her experience. The steady stream of new-age mysticism is attributed to right-brain function, making an argument that religious/spiritual/mystical experiences are nothing more than a few extra neurons firing here and a few less firing there. And who knows, maybe they are. What might be useful to hospital workers and caregivers is her need description of how their questions, demands, and posture were experienced. She needed questions repeated slowly, not loudly. (As she noted, she wasn't deaf, but folks would repeat a question louder as if it would make understand better.)

At the end of it, I was disappointed in this book. Even at the Kindle price of $9.99 I would recommend waiting to pick the paperback version up for less.

What did my grandmother feel after her stroke?
25 years ago, my grandmother suffered a massive left hemisphere stroke that left her half paralyzed and unable to speak. That was a traumatic experience for me and all my family. My beloved grandma died 5 days later, probably of pneumonia. But I always feared to enter her mind during those 5 days in ICU, wondering what it would be like to be buried alive, figuratively, after a massive stroke. So I read this book with trepidation but I am glad I did because it is an enormously positive book, partly because Jill Taylor's outcome was positive. If it hadn't have been, the book would probably not have been written, naturally. The advice towards the end sounds a lot like what Zen masters and other spiritual teachers say, so that tantalizing link makes it more believable and also makes us wonder about spiritual experiences. The only disappointment I must voice is that there is no real practical advice for those of us who haven't had strokes (and don't want to have one in order to become spiritually advanced!) I know, I know... meditation. This merely proves that there is a link between brain function and spiritual states, and also proves that we as a culture are not there yet, with regards to advancing spiritually en masse. We have a long ways to go and the vehicles that can take us there are not easy to drive!

Unique view of our energy bodies
Jill Bolte Taylor captures my attention with her view on energy fields. A must read! Read on to see what I mean. It may mean a major change in health care.

Early on in her experience with her stroke she mentions feeling fluid, flowing in a field without boundaries. She felt part of the universal energy and it was tranquil, safe and blessed. This is a woman who had diminished or no functioning in her left brain.

As she worked to get help she observed the energy of business cards as she held them. She then, after finding the "right" energy, did she match the patterns on the card to patterns on the phone. She did not recognize them as numbers. Some phone numbers she only remembered as patterns...or rhymes. When her co-worker answered the phone it was his reassuring tone/energy that let her know help was on the way. She could not understand what he was saying.

Help arrives and later a kind-hearted paramedic's energy which is compassionate and comforting transported me to the hospital. She really appreciated his response to her. Arrival at the Emergency room was confusing with all the different energies, some good, some not so. It was difficult with all the noises, energy fields (Bodies) moving about and all the questions. What she really appreciated was when the staff connected with her by touching her gently, making eye contact, speaking slowly and softly. She knew these people were there to help her. Her request of them: "Respect me. I am in here. Come find me".

As her treatment continued it was the "kind" energy she responded to and to their requests. If the staff person was `off energy" she wished they would leave as they were sucking her energy. She didn't have any energy to give anyone as she began her recovery. TV was disturbing when the person in the other bed was watching anything.

After she returned home it was the greeting cards that brought joy and good energies. Her mother, who was her caregiver for several months, hung them around her apartment. They helped her heal. Visits from friends were limited or eliminated as it took too much energy to watch their lips as they spoke to her. TV, talk radio and the phone were off limits.

I find it very interesting her readings on the energies around her. Perhaps you can translate Jill's experiences with energy to your life. What will change? Think now how you will respond to a friend or family member in the hospital. How can you support them if they are in recovery, short or long term? Jill's recovery took eight years. If you are the patient, not just a stroke patient, how do you want to be treated? What requests can you, will you ask of your family and friends?

In the bigger picture I hope that the staff, all staff, of hospitals, assisted living, and recovery centers read this book. May they come to some understanding of the importance of meeting the patient or resident with respect from the energy point of view. If you can't find the energy, the attitude to do this then asked to be transferred where you don't have personal contact. It could change the health care system.