Where is the Mango Princess? A Journey Back from Brain Injury by Cathy Crimmins
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Book Reviews of Where is the Mango Princess? A Journey Back from Brain Injury
Book Review: Julianna mango princess
Summary: 5 Stars
Julianna Margulies will be in a new movie Where is the Mango Princess son on TNT! WATCH IT!Book Review: Moving, thoughtful, if unsatisfying personal account
Summary: 4 Stars
Where is the Mango Princess? is a truly touching but tragic account of Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI) and its impact on a family. As much as I respect Anne Lamont, I wonder at her comment, at least as it appears on the book cover blurb, that this is a story of `recovery.' What exactly has been recovered? And how redemptive has this been in the lives of Cathy Crimmins and her husband Alan? Surely Cathy has had to address her once `hands-off' approach to marriage and has chosen to become a truly sacrificial wife, in the process shedding much of the enlightened independence she had so highly prized. In this way, she has somehow backed into a richer `covenantal' attitude to her husband (reflected in the traditional vows she, no doubt, took). She is living much more for him, even when he does not appreciate it, realize it, or have as much to offer in return. The picture is sad but beautiful, and highly instructive. Her world is a far more blessed place as a result of her response to this tragedy.
And yet, has she `recovered?' What exactly did she `lose' and what does she have back now? Her `wellness?' Her `humanity?' Maybe it is his that is recovered? I am not sure. Because her beautiful story remains largely fruitless for her life. After much struggle, she has learned to `cope.' Her story, filled with potential power, is ultimately a lovely tragedy.
This is instructive to anyone who might seek to care for someone who has suffered TBI and to their family. I have ministered to a few, and wish I had read in advance the Mango Princess (particularly through the lens of chapter 5 of Edward Welch's Blame it on the Brain). I think of one person in particular. Looking back I realize neither he nor I coped with the results of his injury adequately. I did not really understand the ways his injury legitimately impacted her, because it was clear that he was being so willfully selfish and hurtful. And he in turn wanted to blame his sin completely on his injury. The big issue I wish I had seen better in the past: his TBI did create some very significant hidden weaknesses that needed to be recognized and accounted for in trying to help his deal with his struggles.
Families in these circumstances face special heart obstacles, as Crimmins so thoughtfully illustrates. Like Alan, the victims very often heal outwardly in a short time, causing the families frustration at not seeing a similar recovery in their mental, emotional and behavioral issues. He is walking again; he is talking again; his wound is healed up; he looks all better; so why can't he start acting more like he used to? He's not a vegetable, and he can seem like his `old self' sometimes, so why does he have to acts so impulsive or socially inappropriate? Why is his sense of humor so `weird?' Why doesn't he respond to things the way we used to (reasoning, prayer)? And if so, why can't they just do some surgery or give him a pill that will `fix' him?
The real physical impact of the injury needs to be understood if the mundane duties of living are to be carried forward, and if the heart of the person and his family and friends are to be challenged to greater spiritual maturity. Perhaps the hardest thing to grapple with (something Crimmins seems to miss) is the truth that the best explanation of post-injury behavior is pre-injury character (See Ed Welch, p. 90). Welch suggests the difficult but potentially liberating truth that the injury can act as `truth serum' to its victims. It can be deeply discouraging, but it also can be redemptively potent as people gain more open access to what was truly in the person's heart all along.
TBI calls for special care and love. A superficial attitude by loved ones can unwittingly contribute to the complex problems.
Crimmins provides a very thoughtful, sensitive, moving (if somewhat unsatisfying) account of her own deep experience.
Book Review: An enlightening read
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the book, for I myself am a survivor of TBI, and I wasn't "present" when I was in the coma to experience what my family went through. Impressed with the book, I gave it to my mom to read.
It made her angry!--that Crimmins was so selfish as to change doctors based on HER feelings. The book focuses mainly on Crimmins' and her daughter's frustrations as her husband recovered from TBI, and my mom thinks that is so selfish. What about him? No one understood what he was thinking. Alan could talk, but he couldn't communicate effectively. (When he asked repeatedly, "Where is the Mango Princess?" I know he had some logical thought in his head, it just came out that way.) How frustrating was that? Very frustrating, I'm sure. I couldn't speak (communicate) when I came out of the coma.
After reading that book and getting my mom's take on it, I have written a book, My Lost Summer: A Story of Tragedy, Hope & Triumph, describing my family's emotions and my frustrations as I recovered from my horse-riding accident. I'm searching for a literary agent now. Look for it next year.
Book Review: The other part of health care HMO's evade.
Summary: 4 Stars
This was an eye-opening account in several aspects.
After the life-saving work of dedicated and intelligent MD's, whose professional and business tangles with HMO's are documented in Atul Gawambe's (M.D.) books, Complications,and Better, the poor TBI patient and his family have to argue and cajole the HMO to provide follow-up care, and if lucky get a small extension of professional help.
And the dedicated people in physical therapy and neuro-psychology or psychiatry get their recommendations ignored. Fortunately for Al, at the time of the injury, the state in which he lived still had some budget for vocational rehab and was able to provide additional help.
Would I be exaggerating to say that the for-profit HMO exectives, whose main objective is to make money, were enjoying mult-million dollar salaries ala AIG, Merrill-Lynch, and Lehman Brothers.
Are there any TBI patients or families out there who are opposed to health-care reform in this country?
Book Review: true story!
Summary: 4 Stars
Cathy Crimmins partner researched medical libraries to provide factual details within the context of this entertaining and cohesive account of a chaotic and painful experience.She shares the story of her husband Alan's injury from a motorboat running over his head and the aftermath of that event.
There are elements here contained in many brain injury stories to a greater or lesser degree; insurance companies, jobs, the impact on friends and family and the slow, frustrating process of recovery.
How she contends with these larger difficulties as well as the daily problems presented by her husband's disability is a story skillfully presented. She maintains hope and provides support during a time that seems incredible in the telling.