Brain Injury: A Family Tragedy [Paperback]

Patt Abrahamson (Author), Jeffery Abrahamson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Hdi Pub (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882855566
• ISBN-13: 978-1882855568
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Outdated and biased, March 15, 2006

By 

Koo S. Cho (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brain Injury: A Family Tragedy (Paperback)

Although the book gives the unimaginable tough account of the unbearable journey of caring for a person with the type of brain injury Gary Jr. underwent, I found the author to be completely biased especially with respect to her obvious hatred towards her ex-daughter in law. Knowing the difficulty of caring for her son, one would expect complete understanding and forgiveness about the impossibility of a single mother of two to care for the victim. Trying to juggle finances, single motherhood, and 24 hour care is an impossible task and I particularly found very offensive the author's suggestion to her daughter in law to sell her possessions to pay for therapy. It is no body's business to be telling people what they should do or not, specially when they do not have to bear any consequences coming from implementing their suggestions. Afterwards, the parents ended up in the situation in which the wife was previously. Their clear resentment is obviously because they were forced to take the ultimate responsibility for Gary Jr. while it would probably be more comfortable for them to seat and criticize the wife while they did not have any responsibility (i.e. financial) towards their son. Although their caring for their son is very noble, I guess they did not really have a choice other than take over the responsibility. That is what is expected from parents, you can not really divorce your blood family.

The book also is misleading and outdated in the terminology used throughout. Gary Jr. had an Anoxic Brain Injury as a result of his cardiac arrest - and NOT a traumatic brain injury as she makes reference throughout the entire book. The prognosis and the type of injury are very distinct, and as far as factual information, there's more available throughout the Internet than in this book.

I speak based on my own experience of caring for a husband who had exactly the same brain injury - except that my own case is worsened by the fact that his level of care is such that requires 24 hr nursing care. We have a baby and not only dealing with the whole situation is very difficult, but listening to people who have the best intentions but do NOT really bear any responsibility nor are impacted by their good advise is most unwelcome. It is nobody's place to pass judgment - like this book does in each single page.

I can not think of any reason whatsoever to read this book. Do not waste your time and money.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Inspiring, July 30, 2000

By 

Barbara McClure (Salem, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brain Injury: A Family Tragedy (Paperback)

Brain Injury - A Family Tragedy is a must read. It gives good insight as to how devastating a brain injury is and its affect on relationships within the family.It shows the struggle that families go through trying to deal with our current health care system. And it shows how strong the parent/child bond really is- even when we are adults. I have been a small part of Gary's health care team for the past four winters in Florida, his parents are the big part and we share his good days, his laughs, his hard times and health concerns. This book is a very accurate portrayal of what brain injury can do - it also depicts an accurate account of the love Gary receives everyday. I have become part of their extended family because Gary Sr. and Patt are such warm and caring people and even though we do have a tough day, on occasion, I truly enjoy my time with Gary - his sense of humor still seeps through his dark world and he makes me laugh everyday.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational in the face of Adversity, January 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Brain Injury: A Family Tragedy (Paperback)

The book is inspirational, well written and interesting. It touches all of our emotions. You will alternatively laugh and cry with this family's experiences. You will celebrate the love and devotion the family displays as well as the indignity and negligence the main character indures throughout his fight for a virtuous existence. The book can be a self-help reference for those who don't know where to turn when their brain injured loved one falls through the cracks of our society's mandates. Brain Injury - A Family Tragedy, can help families who unfortunately have to experience this type of tragedy, by offering coping skills to learn from through another family's experiences.