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Reviewed by Mary DeKok Blowers for Readers' Favorite
I was somewhat familiar with Cushing's Disease, since a woman I used to work for had it. I knew it involved the pituitary gland, and some of the symptoms. I had no idea, though, that its effects could be so far-reaching. Karen Rhodes' book, My Cushing's Journey: A True Story, is a short but gripping account of a young woman's shattered dreams and goals after being diagnosed with Cushing's. My Cushing's Journey will be helpful and informative to others who suspect they may have a brain tumor, or experience sudden weight gain or development of the "moon face" so characteristic of Cushing's. There is unfortunately no cure and to remain untreated would presumably mean that the tumor would continue to grow, causing severe headaches and eventual further brain problems. Rhodes apparently has God on her side. She is fortunate enough to have a good support system in her parents and her husband. They were able to care for Karen at home after her brain surgery, even though her mother had medical issues of her own.
My Cushing's Journey was interesting to me particularly because I have had brain surgery myself, although for a different reason. A healthy brain is so vital to everything in our lives, but even when injured it can sometimes create new pathways for thought that were destroyed by the illness or injury. This is called neurogenesis. The fact that Ms. Rhodes was able to write such a coherent and compelling little book, even after this frightening diagnosis, surgery, and treatment, is a testament to this reality. We still know relatively little about the brain and its capabilities, and the stories of individuals and their brain experiences help to fill in the gaps.
