Don't Leave Me This Way: Or When I Get Back on My Feet You'll Be Sorry

No, just no. The title is first person, the book starts in third person, and for no fathomable reason it shifts later to SECOND person. If I gave the author more credit, I would decide this was a literary device to show that at first she was being seen from the "outside" as if not in the room and was later half recognized ("you") but that doesn't work, because at the start of the book...oh never mind. I was turned off immediately by the God references in early pages (and later she expresses her certainty that everything happens for a reason, zzz)...but chiefly I was baffled by the book's focus. Where was Rory, indeed? That's the question I asked throughout. I realize her cognition was compromised and she was dealing with internal/physical challenges of great magnitude, but had it been me, my big concern would have been my kid. How was this affecting him (the scene where he has the allergic reaction was a shock because until then he had been pretty much invisible). I realize that during the worst of her crisis, she couldn't think about much of ANYthing, but the book is written 5-7 (?) years later, and she is looking back with perspective, typing out paragraphs of rants she leveled at her caregivers; but I don't see conversations with Rory. I don't see dreams or nightmares about Rory. I don't feel Rory's precious sweet limbs or smell his little ears or hear about his haircuts or Brio trains or favorite books. She is more obsessed with mythical baby #2 than with the kid she already has!

In fact, the book stints on dialogue altogether. The author comes off as...er....well, very self impressed. She thinks she is hilariously funny but to my mind she's not funny at all. I never so much as smiled. Her japes were hackneyed, her "wit" unoriginal. I certainly sympathized with her plight and have dealt MANY times with rude or dismissive or unqualified medical professionals/workers, as well as insoluble medical problems. The little "tutorial" she puts at the end of the book, lecturing to physicians, is embarrassingly lame. I'm sure they are lining up to change their behavior based on what Julia says. Geesh lady! Good luck with that!

I thought the tirade she hurled at the therapist in the pool area was childish and unfair and self-focused.
As for self centeredness, she herself admits that she was surprised to realize she should, uh, think of Jim. Think of Jim! Duh. Did the brain damage affect empathy/compassion too? I don't know, I'm just asking.

I was also disappointed that the cause of the "brain event" was glossed over so quickly. That was a stunner but she just kind of pushed it aside. I realize the book's focus was to be on her crisis/recovery, but still...as a reader I felt marginalized. I wanted a suffix or coda explaining about the OTC medication and the corporation's actions.

What she went through is terrible and sad, and her determination to rebuild her capabilities and life might be inspirational to some. I had seen a recommendation for this book so got it from the library (sorry amazon and powell's and barnes & noble and others; I don't buy books)...but it was frankly just annoying to read.

No, just no. The title is first person, the book starts in third person, and for no fathomable reason it shifts later to SECOND person. If I gave the author more credit, I would decide this was a literary device to show that at first she was being seen from the "outside" as if not in the room and was later half recognized ("you") but that doesn't work, because at the start of the book...oh never mind. I was turned off immediately by the God references in early pages (and later she expresses her certainty that everything happens for a reason, zzz)...but chiefly I was baffled by the book's focus. Where was Rory, indeed? That's the question I asked throughout. I realize her cognition was compromised and she was dealing with internal/physical challenges of great magnitude, but had it been me, my big concern would have been my kid. How was this affecting him (the scene where he has the allergic reaction was a shock because until then he had been pretty much invisible). I realize that during the worst of her crisis, she couldn't think about much of ANYthing, but the book is written 5-7 (?) years later, and she is looking back with perspective, typing out paragraphs of rants she leveled at her caregivers; but I don't see conversations with Rory. I don't see dreams or nightmares about Rory. I don't feel Rory's precious sweet limbs or smell his little ears or hear about his haircuts or Brio trains or favorite books. She is more obsessed with mythical baby #2 than with the kid she already has!

In fact, the book stints on dialogue altogether. The author comes off as...er....well, very self impressed. She thinks she is hilariously funny but to my mind she's not funny at all. I never so much as smiled. Her japes were hackneyed, her "wit" unoriginal. I certainly sympathized with her plight and have dealt MANY times with rude or dismissive or unqualified medical professionals/workers, as well as insoluble medical problems. The little "tutorial" she puts at the end of the book, lecturing to physicians, is embarrassingly lame. I'm sure they are lining up to change their behavior based on what Julia says. Geesh lady! Good luck with that!

I thought the tirade she hurled at the therapist in the pool area was childish and unfair and self-focused.
As for self centeredness, she herself admits that she was surprised to realize she should, uh, think of Jim. Think of Jim! Duh. Did the brain damage affect empathy/compassion too? I don't know, I'm just asking.

I was also disappointed that the cause of the "brain event" was glossed over so quickly. That was a stunner but she just kind of pushed it aside. I realize the book's focus was to be on her crisis/recovery, but still...as a reader I felt marginalized. I wanted a suffix or coda explaining about the OTC medication and the corporation's actions.

What she went through is terrible and sad, and her determination to rebuild her capabilities and life might be inspirational to some. I had seen a recommendation for this book so got it from the library (sorry amazon and powell's and barnes & noble and others; I don't buy books)...but it was frankly just annoying to read.

I have a friend who is experiencing the life of someone being treated for aggressive cancer. Although Julia experienced a stroke, she went through many of the same things my friend is going through. The book helped me to understand some of my friend's frustrations and some of the horrors that come with being treated with chemotherapy, as well as just how numb some of the medical community can be to a patient's plight. I understand that there has to be a protective barrier for the medical personnel, but it can be sad to have a doctor, like Julia's Dr. Jerk, who are more concerned with his own opinion than looking for ways to help the patient. Although the topic is sad, sometimes horrific and often emotionally charged, Julia lives life as a optimist filled with humor. If you are able to laugh, why not laugh? I like that way of thinking. The chapters are short, often hilarious, and just what a friend or family member can read to understand what it might be like for someone who is traveling a long road to that place called "recovered." Outside of the story of recovery, this is also a story about a spiritual journey. The Spirit is not ignored in Julia's story, and I understand that it is her intuition and Spirit which gave her fighting power and the guts to say no when needed. If you're on your own spiritual journey, this is a great example of the role intuition and a connection to something greater than yourself can play in a person's life and in healing.

I loved this book. From the beginning her story grabs you, she is a regular person with a family, a job, active life and this unexpected situation takes over her life.

The impact of the sudden stroke turns everything upside down. Now she has to deal with starting all over again. From learning how to walk, needing assistance to go to the bathroom, unable to take care of her child. These are horrific things for a young mother. Thankfully her husband, family, and friends do everything in their power to help her through this. The stroke was not just something that happened to her.

Once in the hospital, she experiences arrogance from the staff. For Example, when she expresses apprehension at chemo, which is pushed on her by the doctor, she explains that she wants to have another child at some point, but she is told she is in denial and/or depressed. They do not listen her concerns. This shows that the healthcare industry has a blinder on.

One the other hand, she does show that there are doctors who DO listen. For instance, Dr Neuro hears her concerns and open and honestly responds. He says he does not know what caused this stroke, but he does want to find out, not just follow predictable procedures. He understands, and has empathy. This is a refreshing attitude from a medical professional.

There are other reviews here that slam her for saying bad things about the medical profession. But that’s not what I got from this book. She shows that as a patient you have to deal with good, bad, condescending and occasionally attentive staff. Through her humor and patience, she comes through this experience with herself intact
I have seen her speak at an activity professional convention, she approached the stage using a cane, got to the podium and waved the cane in the air shouting at everyone to get up and isn’t this a great day. She energized the audience with her positive attitude and self-effacing humor. And that was just the beginning!

We never know what will happen or how quickly life can change. Having seen her in person and seeing how she copes has been an inspiration for me. I’ve bought the book. I’ve given it as gifts and I believe this is something that everyone should read!

This is a remarkable story about a remarkable woman. Julia Fox Garrison’s account of her return from a devastating stroke is full of humor and hope, despite misdiagnoses, arrogant prognoses, and many setbacks. Told in the second person, she puts you right in her position and you travel her journey with her. It is also a story of a remarkable husband who stayed by her side every inch of the way and did whatever he had to do to support her and of a remarkable mother who stepped in where needed for her daughter and grandson. This book leaves you feeling that you want to strive to be a better person.

This is a must read! Julia is an inspiration to all!!

I just loved this book! My mother has actually read it twice and for sure will read it many more times! Not kidding either! My brother who had the stroke also read it and liked it very much. The humor Julia has is hilarious! Never thought I would be laughing so much reading a book about strokes! Trust me and buy this book, share it or better yet buy copies for your favorite people! You will want your own copy to re read!!! All I can say you can’t keep Julia down! Don’t even try!!!

An amazing journey of a young woman (a budding professional on the precipice of climbing the corporate ladder, and a Mother of a three year old) - faced with a massive stroke rendering her paralyzed on the left side of her body.

I'll get into it further, however the Publisher needs to understand.... one word: MORE. A very warm invitation should be issued to Ms. Julia Fox Garrison to put pen to pad and write another book. Her style of writing engages all types of readers. She is forthright, intelligent, humorous, self-derogating (when the situation required), strong, determined, and intensely personal while revisiting her struggles and triumphs. I'm left with the feeling, I want to hear more from her.

It started out with a normal trek to work on a well traveled highway in Massachusetts, a little onset of a cold and the decision to take an over the counter cold remedy. (Whether or not the ingestion of the cold remedy caused the stroke is not fully disclosed, however it leads me to believe it ultimately was what brought down this 37 year old healthy woman).

The day ended with a life and death scenario - most skillfully put forth to the reader in the Third/Second, and First person; of which detailed her experiences in such a fashion which allowed the reader to actually hover above the situation and truly feel what it is like (unabashed) to deal with such a devastating life altering occurrence at such a young age.

Julia puts forth a staggering blow by blow description throughout the journey of how something like this, dealing with the Medical community, dealing with figuring out how to maneuver varied medical personalities in order to achieve some semblance of the "new normal", was as difficult as one could imagine. Her absolute decision to hold people accountable, acceptance of the fact that, while she needed these people to achieve her end game - toning it down upon occasion required her to put a sock in it (from what I glean from her personality - took great effort).

The writing style was absolutely on point. The chapter breakup was extremely comfortable and the read went in such a way, a bookmark was of no use - I remembered exactly where I left off.

When I say MORE, I'd like to know how she fared over the last almost two decades since her stroke. Where is she now? What is she doing? A little more detail regarding her wonderful Husband Jim, her Son Rory, her amazing/dedicated family. All of this and more... please.

To sum up... somehow she achieved an intimate glimpse into her life (just for me), became an endearing character - so much so, I'd like to sit down with her over a cuppa Joe, chew the fat and explore further.

Julia's account of her experience brought me to tears through most chapters of the book – if I wasn’t laughing out loud, or both. Having worked with sick people professionally and personally for many, many years, I have to say that it is truly rare and indeed extraordinary to find someone who approached her situation as she did. She has given people the gift of the way she coped heroically with a gravely debilitating stroke which not only speaks to its scientific impact on her miraculous recovery, but moreover, the call of humanity to live for others in order to reach our best selves while enduring deep suffering. I am blown away by her attention to that goal and humbled to improve in my everyday life because of it.
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You will not want to put down "Don't leave me this way" by Julia Fox Garrison. Don't leave me this way is a brave, humorous account of the author's experience surviving, recovering from and eventually thriving in the aftermath of a stroke. This book helps us all regain our dignity and humanity in an otherwise inhumane medical system.
You will finish filled with hope, smiles and knowing you have a kindred spirit and partner in crime in Julia. I recommend this book to anyone dealing with any health crisis as well as for all of us just learning how to navigate life with a little more humor, courage and grace.
You will be inspired, challenged and your heart will be opened.
Thank you to Ms. Fox Garrison for sharing your story with so much courage and helping so many others along the way. You truly have a gift and I am so glad you are using it to your fullest potential.