Customer Reviews

The Man With the Iron Tattoo And Other True Tales of Uncommon Wisdom: What Our Patients Have Taught Us About Love, Faith And Healing

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike some of today's popular television shows about self-centered, arrogant doctors solving their cases with little patient interaction and a complete lack of emotion, "The Man with the IRON Tattoo" is a book about people and relationships. Albeit, this book alternates between distinctive true medical cases as experienced by two physicians, the message portrayed is different and one that isn't heard often enough by our community. It is a message about building positive relationships and showing compassion.

The cases are initially similar to the television shows: nearly always, someone is dying for a reason that is sometimes immediately unexplainable, or possibly, a diagnosis can be made, but the outcome is known to be dismal even with appropriate treatment. The beliefs and interactions of the authors, however, take these emotive stories in an entirely new direction. And the real-life, real-people truth in each chapter makes these experiences so much more influential. In these non-fiction tales are split-second medical decisions that save lives, but there are also patients who die while in the care of their doctors. Even though not all of the chapters end with the corollary of a saved patient, each one ends with a heart-felt and sometimes gut-wrenching implication that respect, listening, communication, and compassion can change lives forever.

And one of the forever changed lives portrayed in a chapter of this book is my own. It doesn't seem all that long ago, but I am a survivor of a traumatic brain injury and was comatose for more than ten days under the care of Lehigh Valley Hospital. I feel a pain in my chest and tear in my eye every time I read the story titled with my name, not because of the descriptions of my bloody and mangled self, but for the love of my father, who felt my injuries to a significantly greater extent than I did. Along with all of the pain that he endured, my father stayed with me and believed in me, even when it seemed like the entire remaining world had given up hope. With his determination at staying by my side, his daily conversations with me (although these were one-way exchanges, since I was unconscious), and his struggle with my doctors to give me a feeding tube even though the idea of a meaningful survival was dreary, my father willed me to live. And, at least towards the final days of my coma, I knew that my father was there fighting for me. And I needed to let him know that I knew. When I heard my dad ask me, his seemingly comatose son, to show him two fingers, I quickly shot out my whole arm along with two of my fingers pointing straight up at the ceiling and I held it there for what seemed like a very long time, just to show him that I could and to let him know that what he was doing was good. It is possible that I am alive today and currently able to speak and think coherently because my dad never gave up on me, because he communicated with me, and because my respect for him is paramount.

On the surface, there is no direct connection between any of these stories, but as the whole that comprises this book of uncommon wisdom, a steadfast beam of shining white light unites them inseparably. Sure, there are subtleties that carry from one case to the next, but the message contained within these chapters is one that builds on itself and has profound impact every time it is deafeningly proclaimed and espoused.

These authors are clearly not doctors who love money, live in mansions, drive Porsches, and drink martinis, but ones who stand out unmistakably because of their humility and respect for others. They chose their professions because of their love for people and joy for life. My father, Dr. John Castaldo, and friend, Dr. Larry Levitt, are the epitomes of a benevolent, enduring, and forever succeeding society.

Buy this book, you won't regret it. It may forever change your view of the world.

This vivid and riveting collection of true stories brings the anguish and anxiety a doctor feels for his patients to life for the reader. Each patient/hero in the 13 tales of uncommon wisdom pulls at the reader's own experiences of fear, desperation and hope. The stories may surprise the medical community as these doctors find cures, answers, treatments and many lessons in listening deeply to the patient's intangible messages. Sometimes this leads them in unconventional directions, but it always results in a restored faith in humanity. Castaldo and Levitt share heartfelt lessons of humility, forgiveness, love and faith that they have learned from their patients in their practice of neurology. The doctors inspire us with their compassion for the human soul and what they did not learn in their Ivy League medical schools which is "when the spirit dances, the body yearns to follow." In addition to leaving the reader wanting more stories to read by these two very special doctors, The Man with the Iron Tattoo will leave you hoping your doctor has read this book! A must read for all.

I am biased of course as the son of the author. But, having read every word of this book, and lived its meaning growing up with the author I can most assuredly say that it is all true. The stories are meaningful and inspiring. They emphasize the value of interpersonal relationships and what we can learn from our fellow human being. In moments of suffering, the real priorities in life emerge and it is at these most fragile moments that the doctor patient relationship is so important. This book reaffirms confidence in that most important relationship. I hope many readers agree.

This wonderful book should be required reading in medical schools. I do not mean that this book is just for medical students. I am only stating that they should be required to read this book and learn that good medical practice requires listening with concern. The rest of us ought to read it for the pure pleasure of a great read. If your health care professionals are not at this level of competency or humanity, fire them and find ones like Castaldo and Levitt.
An Expert Look at Love, Intimacy and Personal Growth

The first thing I need to say is, "Please read this book!" It is filled with amazing stories and lessons for life. It will make you laugh and cry. Mostly, you will feel hopeful that there are others out there like Drs. Castaldo and Levitt. Even before reading this book, I learned from personal experience that John Castaldo was a truly kind, genuine and intelligent physician and person. After reading it, my profound respect for both he and Dr. Levitt has grown far beyond anything I could ever put into words. I first met Dr. Castaldo as a young nurse working at Lehigh Valley Hospital in the mid 1990's. I reconnected with him in June 2006 when my father was diagnosed with viral encephalitis. When other physicians did not seem to "listen", Dr. Castaldo was there with an open heart and open ear. He believed in us and knew that as a family, the people who knew our dad the best, we could provide important pieces to the confusing puzzle that was my father's illness. Without his support and belief in the family and our own intuition, we're not sure where we would be now. His instinct and astounding medical knowledge was life-saving. His advice to my mother, who never left my father's side for more than 40 days, "to stand up and be heard", has stayed with her still today. I am happy to report that my dad is doing great! I will be forever grateful for the care that Dr. Castaldo provided to my father and my family.

Were the great Hollywood film director alive, Frank Capra (It's a Wonderful Life) would have optioned this great book filled with life-affirming stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Capra would have loved the multi-generational epic story of Anna.
Sure this wonderful little book deals with life, death, and serious illness, but the reader is left feeling optimistic.
And the authors inform, move, amuse, and amaze us. You can't make this stuff up.
I hope they write a sequel. I'm buying this one for everyone on my long Christmas list.

We are all blessed by moments of grace in our lives. The trick is to be attuned to them. As a sometime patient and doula for children in palliative care, I acknowledge the special need to this sensitivity in the healing arts. But I believe these authors suggest that this can be generalized to living our lives as healing arts.

In this book, two neurologists recall memorable cases in their practices and events in their personal lives where their patients taught them valuable lessons about life. The stories reveal very human and humorous aspects of these eminent physicians' personalities. Some of the accounts are sad, others almost incredible, and still others will have you chuckling and shaking your head. In many chapters, the spotlight shines on the patients - not on the doctors. This is a unique book with stories you will want to share with family and friends.

Each story was very moving. They were well written and beautifully exposed the very human side of these gifted doctors. The chapters may have been about different patients in different situations but each ended with a very satisfying lesson learned. It is a very uplifting and inspiring book and is the perfect gift item during this special holiday season.

I must caution readers that this review may be biased - Dr. John Castaldo has been a close personal friend for over 20 years.

To me the book is more than stories of love, faith and healing. It's the story of two human beings who, as they become more skilled as physicians, struggle to become more human, in a profession that is simultaneously life-and-death, and often dehumanizing.

I visited John daily while his son David was in the hospital. I remember the hundreds of cuts on David's body, and the grief expressed by John and his family. But I also remember his determination that David would recover.

This is not a superstar ("look at all the great things I did") type of book. There are successes mixed with sadness, and perhaps failures. But that is the human drama of life. The book is worth buying and reading.