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| View Larger Image | If I Only Had a Brain Injury
by Laura Bruno
| | List Price: | $19.99 | | Price: | $17.99 | | You Save: | $2.00 (10%) |  | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours | | | | | Sales Rank: | 345878 | | Studio: | Xlibris Corporation | | | Binding: | Paperback | | Number Of Pages: | 196 | | Publication Date: | March 28, 2008 | | Publisher: | Xlibris Corporation |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Book Description
"If I Only Had a Brain Injury is a page-turner and a must-read. It is a testimony of the power of believing in oneself, a true survival story."
--Alina Oswald
"The 'Oz' analogy is something I had never thought of and it is perfect. ... The book will be a great resource. ... I especially like that you offer ways to deal with the emotional impact on survivors, friends and family members. Your book will be of great help to families. I see it all the time, people with TBI are looking for anything that will help, and conventional medicine can only do so much."
-----Karen Ruppert--Nurse Manager, trauma rehabilitation unit at Harborview Medical Center
Unlike other books on healing from so-called "Medical Mysteries," If I Only Had a Brain Injury encourages readers to chart their own inspirational journeys. The book's structure follows The Wizard of Oz storyline (Dorothy's journey begins with a concussion), guiding readers to a "yellow brick road through recovery." A collection of personal examples, alternative treatments and spiritual growth exercises, this book also offers wisdom from thirteen contributors, including Robin Cohn (Vice President of New York State Brain Injury Association), Dr. William Padula (Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association), Dana Reeve, and Kay Strom. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 12 reviews)
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Lyme Disease help here too! 
I got this book yesterday afternoon and I have been gobbling it up! Right from the start I identified with the writing. I, too, had a feeling that my evening at the outdoor amphitheater that July 26th night in 2005 could change my life. I didn't know how and so I ignored my irrational feelings. I went to the ballet and although we were sitting inside I must have picked up the tick as we walked across the lawn to the amphitheater. 10 days later, almost to the hour, I was very, very sick. The Lyme crossed the blood brain barrier and I have had neurological and emotional problems. My stupid neurologist says I am "in the normal range" even when I have vertigo and was falling back on my head walking down the street, have huge memory gaps, sometimes make no sense, etc. I told him it wasn't normal for me, but ended up getting nowhere and leaving his office in tears.
My boyfriend of 12 years (with whom I attended the ballet that night) became very frustrated and angry. I am no longer the same woman he signed up for. We separated in the Fall of 2007. He felt I was not "trying hard enough" to get better.
My family thinks I am mentally ill. In fact over the last 9 months I have been misdiagnosed with either depression or Bipolar II disorder and mis-medicated, which DID make me pretty crazy. I am now convinced I ought not to be on any medications but treat myself holistically. I have been medication free for one month and that has made a huge difference for me.
So, I am so thankful for the book! I am finding out that I need to listen to myself and not depend on doctors to be able to fix me or even diagnose me correctly. I have been changing my diet and using it as my medicine. I have been making sure to get outside and walk or recently I can bicycle again! Soak in some sun. Surround myself with positive people--no angry boyfriend--as much as possible. I am painting again.
I think I was already headed in this direction -- after 11 months of putting my hope and trust in, then floundering in, medical offices, hitting my head against (figurative) wall after wall. Laura Bruno's book gives me such strength and hope for this journey.
July 08, 2008 | |
A Clear, Heart-Felt Guide And Support For All Life Challenges
If I Only Had a Brain Injury is a beautifully conveyed book that is not only practical, simplistic, and full of easy to apply tips and tremendously helpful, thorough resources, but is also an artistic expression of genuine experience and compassion that takes one on a journey through Oz. Utilizing Dorothy and her friends' experiences to illustrate our own unfolding life processes creates a tangible and easily understood analogy, and coupled with Laura's own personal experiences, truly hits home and creates a relateability that transcends all boundaries. This is not only helpful for those with TBI and medical challenges as listed, but truly is a guideline and means of support for any and all challenges in life that can be simply applied. Finding myself challenged in overly mental focusing and truly not having the desire to do so either, I found Laura's book wonderfully supportive to this. It was easy, quick, and very clear, with nothing to have to read between the lines or mentally figure out. One can open the book to any page and find something valuable easily without it feeling out of context. This works well for people like myself who either don't have time to read, don't have much desire to read, or little focus to do so. You can pick up and leave off at any point and never feel lost and get exactly what you need at every turn. Laura is a beautiful example and expression for us all and one can only look forward to more wonderful books to come from her.
June 22, 2008 | |
An injury - an opportunity!
Injury took some mental abilities away.
Through that loss, author Laura Bruno,
finds an alternative path to health and
trusting herself. She demystifies many
medical mysteries all the while reassuring
those in similar situations not to suffer alone the
embarrassment and self consciousness of a
brain that is learning to function again -
perhaps differently. If I Only Had a Brain
Injury is a compendium of spiritual and
emotional support. It includes 52 healing
hints while leading its readers to become
wizards of their own healing. It offers
support to the caregiver and acknowledges
how events changes all involved.
Ultimately Laura Bruno wants everyone
to find their own deeper meaning of
injury - an opportunity to connect the
mind and heart - to live deeply, meaningfully,
and creatively through one's
essence.
June 06, 2008 | |
If Only I Had A Brain Injury by Laura Bruno, M.A.
I actually was only going to read this book to prepare myself for the radio interview with this author (May 29, 2008 on In Short Order at [...]). Instead, I found myself glued to the pages of valuable information from a patient's view. By reading this book, those who know or take care of a person with a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) will be better able to understand what the victim is going through - a better handle on things makes for a better friend/family member or care provider. Those who treat TBIs would benefit from this book more than most - what you can't see on tests can be learned here and therefore validate the diagnosis more quickly so that treatment can begin at an earlier stage. For those with a TBI, Lyme disease, or any disabling affliction, this book is your pair of ruby slippers.
Bruno equates a TBI to The Wizard of Oz classic. Although I have Lyme disease (which in many cases can be likened to a TBI), and can relate and benefit from this book, I never saw it put so simply - and well written. Just as Dorothy is whisked to another place, it is the same with most injuries and illnesses. We leave the life we know for a place we have never been before (and few want to make it a vacation spot). Come take the first step on the yellow brick road - where the journey to recovery begins.
Glinda (as we remember as the good witch) starts us on the path. Contacting organizations and support groups is an important step. Who doesn't need support, information, and to hear from others on virtually the same path? There are many things to do to prepare us for the first steps to recovery, but often we forget where we need to begin. Order is the way to end chaos. Support is the way to end aloneness. And information is the way to the next steps that must be taken if recovery is the goal. And don't forget, some who have grown accustomed to your disability-state may not want you to recover - learn why in "If I Only Had A Brain Injury."
There are the ruby slippers and the wicked witch. The information in this section is most helpful because it starts us focusing more closely on ourselves. Here we can begin to turn the injury or disease into a new beginning. When we beat ourselves up or refuse to accept what we cannot change, we slow or halt our journey. Forgiveness and identifying change are good things.
Okay, we're on our way. We may not be skipping yet, but we can add pep to our steps when we look at what can remove some of the stumbling blocks that have been preventing us forward movement on our road to recovery. Bruno learned that buying quality electronics (a computer monitor) cut down on her headaches and dizziness; which allowed her to work; which enabled her to earn a paycheck; which helped her to feel she was still in Kansas.
There are more ideas that are presented in this work - classical music, relationships with animals, and cultivating new friendships, to name a few. These will open new doors in the land of Oz and you may even discover new things about yourself that you never knew existed.
In "If I Only Had A Brain Injury," Bruno has given us a map of the Emerald City, introduced us to the Munchkins, and provided a beacon for anyone who is associated with injuries and disease. It is a one-of-a-kind book.
This a must read for all, with hopes that you find an owl in your life, too.
Sue Vogan
[...]
May 23, 2008 | |
This book is practical and a great read!
I wish I'd had this book when I was searching for my road to recovery from CFS! It is an excellent resource for people with TBI, MS, CFS, FM, Lyme Disease or other debilitating "mysterious" chronic illnesses and injuries. It's also an excellent resource for care givers and health providers.
It doesn't take long to discover that this book offers than tips for feeling better. Using The Wizard of Oz story as an extended metaphor for finding and taking the road home to recovery, author Laura Bruno presents a "traveler's guide" with 52 suggestions for the journey from disease to integrated healing on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of our being.
The book is user friendly, especially for people with brain fog that impairs their ability to read and comprehend written material. Laura's writing style is straightforward, concise, and easy to digest. The chapters are short and can be read and absorbed as units within the whole. Key points are presented in bold type, suggestions are in "bullet" format.
With compassion, warmth and humor, Laura tells her story and invites readers to follow our "Yellow Brick Road." She points out some of the bends along the way, turns that may seem scary but are actually opportunities to change aspects in our life that no longer work and may be hindering recovery.
The book includes special sections for health providers and caregivers, and some great inspirational stories from survivors of these kinds of life-changing illnesses and injuries.
I highly recommend this book!
May 18, 2008 | |
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