It is with that misconception - we fool ourselves about our mortality
and medical vulnerability - that Berenice Kleiman, the northeast Ohio
wife of a stroke victim, begins her second book about the road back
from stroke. "Lessons Learned: Stroke Recovery From a Caregiver's
Perspective" is a follow-up text to "One Stroke, Two Survivors: The
Incredible Journey of Berenice and Herb Kleiman."
"Sudden, massive illness is difficult enough," explains the
author. "But recovery is often an arduous, lonely journey with little
support. Fear and frustration in navigating the medical labyrinth too
often hinder the fight for survival and recovery. My husband Herb and I
have been there. And throughout our fight, I muttered, 'There has to be
a better way.'"
It is the knowledge Berenice Kleiman gained since writing her
first book about stroke that is the focus of "Lessons Learned ($9.95,
paperback), published by Cleveland Clinic Press and available at such
online booksellers as Amazon.com. The book "addresses chronic illness
and long-term disability with practical answers to the 'what do I do
next' questions not covered in hospital information guides," the author
said in publicity material for the book.
Topics include how to take action when a stroke occurs,
navigating the medical system to find specialists, what to do when the
patient comes home, why rehab and therapy are important, the hidden
costs of caregiving, what happens when the caregiver gets sick,
maintaining hope and addressing your anger.
"Six years ago, in the face of negative professional advice, I
chose to bring my husband home and care for him myself," writes Kleiman
in the preface to her book. "For us it was the right decision. Because
there was available so little practical information about home care for
a stroke survivor with his many needs, the process was very difficult.
Through my own hardheadedness, helpful advice from others, and simple
luck, I muddled through a range of complicated problems."
The book is blunt in its attempt to keep its readers from
having to "muddle through" a medical crisis. Chapter titles indicate
the sensitive nature of their recollections and advice. "Caregivers
Anger," "Toileting Nightmares," "Travels with Herb," and "The Costs No
One Talks About" are examples of the issues that are addressed.
The book takes caregivers and stroke victims into the waiting
room, to the patient's bedside, back home again, and out into the
"real" world, letting them know what to expect from stroke at each
place. At the conclusion of the text, the author adds a glossary of
terms related to stroke, a list of information sources on the Internet,
a list of medications her husband has taken, and a summary of his
recovery.
"'Lessons Learned' shares simple, everyday solutions to
chronic and long-term disability problems that work for us," the author
writes. "It also looks at these demands through the eyes and needs of a
caregiver. I encourage you to adapt what you need to meet your own
special needs."
Reach Repository Living Section Editor Gary Brown at (330) 580-8303 or e-mail gary.brown@cantonrep.com
Comment on this story After signing in, type in the box below to comment on this story.
You must be a registered
user to post comments. Your comment will be published at the bottom of
the story. Once a comment is submitted, you will not be able to edit or
delete the comment.
