Editorial Review:

When Eve suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm, Madonna Siles, her housemate and friend, too quickly found herself making critical short- and long-term medical care decisions without any help. When the insurance and financial resources ran out and the conventional therapy providers discharged zombie-like Eve to the homecare of a solitary caregiver, both their futures seemed hopeless.

Instead of giving up, Siles drew on life experience and her marketing career to develop a rehabilitation program that harnessed the power of the subconscious mind. Using motivational techniques borrowed from the advertising world, she appealed to Eve's subconscious to bypass the brain damage and restore normal functioning. In three short years, even the doctors were amazed at Eve's recovery and return to a near-normal life.

Part memoir, part recovery manual, Brain, Heal Thyself is a guidebook for thousands of shell-shocked individuals who suddenly find themselves having to make life and death decisions for those they love. With humor, warmth, and arresting honesty, Siles's lively narrative closely examines not only the patient's recovery, but also the crucial role of caregivers--and the emotional, financial, and practical pressures they face.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Uplifting read, but very general:

This was an enjoyable book to read (considering the topic), but it didn't offer much in the way of specifics for care giving or rehabilitation. Much of the book is dedicated to telling the author's story, and it also heavily references the 12 step program. Although I didn't get the specifics I was looking for, I did get a few ideas for additional research, such as eye exercises for regaining balance. Additionally, the book did provide me with a sense of hopeful optimism about my care giving situation.

Seven Stars!:

I do not remember the excrutiating pain I was apparently in when I had my brain aneurysm. Nor do I recall my months of recovery in hospitals and the nursing home. But I am very grateful that my friend and caregiver never gave up on using her emotion-based approach to brain rehab. I typed the manuscript for Brain, Heal Thyself. I also proofread it. I believe all caregivers and stroke patients (who can read) SHOULD read Brain, Heal Thyself. This caregiving method saved my life. I give this book seven stars!... more info

Interesting, but not helpful....:

This book was interesting, but not particularly helpful in terms of information. I sincerely hope the caregiver has stopped smoking since this is one of the number one causes of stroke and I can't imagine smoking around a stroke victim. The degree of care provided to the stroke victim by the author is interesing as it certainly did not impress me as what would be provided by someone in a true caretaker role--no mention of attending PT sessions, meeting with physicians, etc. Also no real information on what... more info

a must read if you want to help someone recover:

I am a caregiver for someone recovering from a stroke - so I read the second part of the book first, where Madonna takes Eve home and begins her common sense and using-everything-she-ever-learned-in-life approach to helping her friend recover. Every occupational therapist in America should be required to read this book. It's a great book, an easy read, by a wonderful, creative, funny, honest human being. Madonna will cause you to start thinking creatively about how you can help your loved one in your daily... more info

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