Customer Reviews

Healing Dramas and Clinical Plots: The Narrative Structure of Experience (Cambridge Studies in Medical Anthropology)

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I had polio in 1947. Subsequently, I spent years in physical therapy and medical community services. This is a book clearly written by an author who has very little experience in the area of physical suffering or disability. Yet her clear and precise understanding of what denigrates and also what boosts the morale of patients dealing with severe trauma shines forth. I applaud this effort. The constant push toward compassion found in her book and the call to carefully listen to the stories of individual patients astounds someone like me who grew up in the confines of a rather harsh and unfeeling medical community where listening to the patient was unheard of. This is for me a glorious breakthrough. And yet, the most crucial and pivotal assistance ever imparted in my estimation is a spiritual understanding of how we come to terms with faith in our Maker and God during times of tragedy and loss. Personally, I don't know how anyone survives severe disability apart from the grace and compassion of the Almighty Who can and will enter into our place of suffering and bestow spiritual strength to press on. Learning that God is a very present Help in trouble enables and fosters triumph in times of darkness.