A must read for Stroke, Brain Injury, or Brain Tumor victims

Author's Rating:

Pros: Well organized, thorough, and clearly written.

Cons: Can't think of any...

Author's Review
Being an information junkie (I teach college English), I needed to find out everything I could when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I came across Dr. Diane Roberts Stoler on the internet (through Discovery Health) and discovered her book, Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Diane Roberts Stoler, EdD and Barbara Albers Hill).

This book is helpful on every level, whether you are the person suffering the injury itself, or have family who has. There are so many ways family are impacted by brain injury (which ecompasses stroke, brain surgery, brain tumors, or anything where the brain is impacted). What makes this book especially meaningful is the fact that Dr. Stoler, a practicing psychologist, suffered both a brain tumor and brain injury herself. She's not some academic preaching from texts. She has been there. She knows the emotional aspects of recovery, an angle conveniently ducked by many academic-type medical resources.

This books educates the reader on how the brain works, the expected physical symptoms that may be experienced during recovery, the emotional impact on both the victim and his/her family, and how to live with the new stresses that may be added following recovery.

As a psychologist, Dr. Stoler knows how important understanding the trauma is to recovery. She clearly explains the physiological aspects of the brain. This is critical to understanding why certain things may be happening to the person recovering from the trauma. More importantly, she knows the questions that patients and family ask because she's been there herself and asked the same questions.

This book has become a "bible" of sorts for me. It explains why there may be mood swings, seizures, concentration problems, or anything that can occur during or after recovery. It also has much information for families that are helping someone recovering from a stroke or brain tumor or brain injury. Best of all, the language is in everyday, simple language. It's well organized and contains a thorough index to look up specific issues.

If you know anyone who has suffered a stroke, brain tumor, or brain injury, do them a favor and recommend this book. It can help improve people's lives. It doesn't sugarcoat the issues, nor does it overwhelm you by pretentious writing. It's just good information to have.