Peter Andrew Smith

Eight Seconds of MenB Peter Andrew Smith

A detailed memoir of a highly traumatic time where a fight for life was taken on by an observant and caring family, a professional hospital team and the patient himself. This story starts with a dramatic awakening in a hospital bed with, initially no clear idea of the reason for being there and no concept of how long those around have already been engaged with the fight already to save his life.

The book describes the horror and confusion of hallucinations and the intrusions, pain and discomfort of treatments and procedures which are required to be undertaken through a lengthy and uncertain hospital stay. We follow the patient beyond the acute stage with his continued efforts to regain an as near to normal a life as possible. The writing is presented from the first-hand perspective of the patient prior to their hospital discharge, through Outpatient visits post-discharge and on into the longer phase of gradual recovery and readjustment and in being back in their village community. The extracts from the medical notes and journals written at the time give true to life insights into those times.

The book shows great respect, admiration and gratitude to the those who helped the author through their illness and recovery, while seeming to underplay the strength and fortitude the author must have had to come through their life-changing illness with bravery and fortitude.