Customer Reviews

Curveball: When Life Throws You a Brain Tumor

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the relative of someone with a brain tumor, I found this book to be very honest and insightful. I often imagined how painful this experience could be but always focused on the physical rather than the mental anguish. Liz reveals what's going on inside her head with self-deprecating humor and heart-felt honesty. I was very moved as she described her mom's parting words before the major surgery, and this is balanced by much lighter and very funny moments such as her description of a mission to a Target store to check up on her own sanity. There are so many ups and downs that I felt compelled to finish the story quickly hoping everything would turn out for the best in the end. I would especially recommend this book to friends and relatives of those with a brain tumor diagnosis so they might gain insight that the person may not be willing or able to share as they are going through it.

Having just undergone my second brain surgery, I can attest to the fact that this book will prepare anyone who is going to undergo this type of surgery, and would be especially helpful to a family member who wants to understand what their loved one will be experiencing. Liz masterfully interweaves the unvarnished facts with humour, making it delightful read. I would loved to have had such a book to read prior to my surgeries!

I just read this wonderful rare find on how to cope with a brain tumor as told through the eyes of Liz Holzemer. She expresses her harrowing ordeal with and triumph over a shocking brain tumor. This book gives you a close-up look of what it is like to suffer through the effects of such an often overlooked tumor---a meningioma. Anyone surviving a serious medical illness could identify and learn from the experiences that Liz Holzemer describes in vivid and clear detail. And any partner or spouse of someone with a serious medical illness will be able to appreciate the strength and support of her husband Mark. Fast-paced, engaging, and full of original wit, this book is enjoyable to read.

Get off the computer now and buy this book. This is the first book that provides a first person view of a brain tumor journey. With great wit, candor and henesty Liz opended up about her own brain tumor journey. Liz is doing the hard work here. Not only educatiing the public but bringing the public in for a birds-eye view of the daily struggles of a brain tumor diagnosis. I wish I had this book prior to my own journey and recommend in to all that are expereincing life with a brain tumor.

A revealing way to share the rollercoaster ride of emotions and events that start as soon as the doctor says, "You have a brain tumor." It takes off like a rocket and keeps you riveted as the odyssey unfolds, incorporating the support of family and friends with the gentle humor that gets you through the tough times.

This is a sincere and heartwarming saga of what other meninigoma brain tumor survivors have endured. Liz Holzemer is an inspiration to everyone. She relates her ordeal in an honest and truthful way, not sparing us her gut wrenching emotions, but even brings humor to her story.

Liz Holzemer has knocked her curveball out of the ballpark with this honest, heart wrenching account of the brain tumor journey. A must read for all who work within the brain tumor community, from neurosurgeons to nurses to physical therapists. Don't miss it!

I guess I am in disagreement with most of my fellow sufferers, but, you know, life doesnt turn out as well as it did for her, for all of us...I keep hearing all these great stories about people who get on with their lives and look beautiful again--some are inoperable. Most of us are not married to professional athletes. And many of us never return to careers , nor have children.

I would just like others to know that everyone out there with a meningioma does not have a fairytale ending--especially those without insurance. Of course, I am not dead yet (lol) so who knows. But I keep hearing from doctors, support gorup members, etc, that this is the "best brain tumor you can have"--how about none at all. Maybe I am too recently diagnosed....

As the daughter of someone with a meningioma I found this book fantastic. In fact, I literally didnt put it down - I read it from cover to cover in one go. And then I passed it onto another family member, who read it and passed it on again. We have now all read it and have since enjoyed discussing it with each other. There were many snippets that Liz shared that we could all relate to. I highly recommend this book to anyone dealing with a brain tumour and all their loved ones.

I like this book, but I'd only recommend it to people that have undergone brain surgery. I have, so I understood where she was coming from. But I wouldn't loan it out to any of my friends because they probably wouldn't enjoy it.