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Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
“It was supposed to be two surgeries, that’s all—not three. Two surgeries to fix the cavernous angiomas, those tangled blood vessels in my brain that had leaked blood, followed by rehab, followed by getting my life back. Two surgeries that I’d planned for, prepared my kids for, built defenses for. Two, not three. But my brain had other ideas.” But My Brain Had Other Ideas (A Memoir of Recovery from Brain Injury) by Deb Brandon recounts the author’s experience of surviving cavernous angiomas. She had to endure multiple surgeries and brave years of recovery with all the ups and downs. As I’ve little knowledge about this illness, this memoir is informative from the get-go.
Brandon, who’s a math professor, describes her experience in very clear and engaging prose. Readers will feel that they are right there with her through all the confusion, fear, anger and determination. Her memories in the hospital are the most evocative ones for me. They reminded me of my memories of visiting my loved ones and watching them go through all sorts of medical procedures. That said, Brandon’s resoluteness to get better and not let her condition, her "bloody brain," take away her identity as a mathematician, a teacher, and her love for dragon boats. This memoir is crucial in educating people－especially the medical community－of the sensory overload, moments of frustrating immobility and inability to communicate, the pain and how one could help. Overall, this memoir is an eye-opening and commendable read from Brandon.
