Patient Narratives Series

The books in the Patient Narratives series provide first-hand accounts of experiences of illness. Sometimes gruelling, sometimes uplifting, each personal description vividly illustrates the highs and lows of being a patient, where treatment can be good or bad, unsuccessful or successful, and the insights are invaluable.

STROKE - IT COULDN'T HAPPEN TO ME
Margaret Cromarty

This book describes the frustrations of being fully aware but ignored as a person by carers unable to communicate effectively, and the painfully slow steps towards rehabilitation. It contains vital lessons for health professionals caring for victims of stroke, and for families and friends of patients.

For the 12 months following her stroke, Margaret's husband, Iain, kept a journal. To read an account of his perspective on his wife's illness, please click here.

For full  information please click here.

NOTHING PERSONAL: disturbing undercurrents in cancer care
Mitzi Blennerhassett

‘This is essential reading for all who deal with cancer patients – health professionals, politicians, health service developers, carers and, of course, patients themselves. It clearly gives us a distillation of what cancer patients want.' 

Karol Sikora, in his Foreword

For full  information please click here.

MOURNING SARAH: a case testing group B strep
Theresa Huttlinger Vigour

‘In this astonishing read, we follow Vigour's journey into darkness and loss, a gripping pilgrimage that leads to eventual knowledge and empowerment. This lucid book should be required reading for any woman headed to the maternity ward.'

Paul Morris, Director, Master of Liberal Studies Program, Arizona State University, USA

For full  information please click here.

FROM ONCOLOGY NURSING TO COPING WITH BREAST CANCER: my journey there and back
Kate Hayward

'Being diagnosed with breast cancer has now changed me from nurse and carer into a vulnerable ill person with doubts and fears for my future. To restore some sense of purpose while on sick leave and help me to get through each treatment stage, I decided to keep a daily journal of my experience.’  

Kate Hayward, in her Preface

For full  information please click here

Other Patient Experiences

A LONG WALK HOME

Rachel Clark

An evocative and moving account of a young woman's cancer treatment and experiences with health professionals, providing insights of enormous practical benefit to doctors, nurses and their colleagues.

For full  information please click here

LIFE AFTER DARKNESS

a doctor’s journey through severe depression

Cathy Wield

Life After Darkness is the remarkable and moving story of a doctor and mother of four who endured seven years of severe depression. Self-harm, attempted suicides and admissions to psychiatric units culminated in her resorting to brain surgery as a final attempt to escape her illness. 

For full  information please click here.

EYES WITHOUT SPARKLE

a journey through postnatal illness

Elaine A Hanzak

Eyes without Sparkle is a powerful medical autobiography describing the journey followed by the author into, through, and out of puerperal psychosis, the most severe form of postnatal depression. With vivid and intimate descriptions of events and the author’s feelings, this is the only book offering a single first-hand account of postnatal illness.

For full  information please click here.