Review of "Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness" by Susannah Cahalan

I am still in shock over what I read. But in a good way. I think everyone needs to read this story. Not because you may have the disease Susannah had, but because of the turn healthcare has taken and you need to have yourself, or someone you trust stand up for you and keep pushing for answers no matter what the doctors tell you.

Imagine you are young and healthy. Then you wake up in a hospital bed in a straight jacket with electrodes all over your head. And a band on your wrist. What would you do?

Well what Susannah Calahan did was go through, literally, a month of hell. She started with some small bothersome symptoms that turned into very large pressing symptoms that were of great concern to her boyfriend, her friends, her parents, and the doctors. She was not herself. By looks or by actions. She knew it and tried to relate to her family that their Susannah was still inside this seemingly crazy and catatonic girl.

As Susannah got put through every medical test in the world, there was still no answer and she got worse. Enter the doctor that saved her life by administering a very old and simple test of brain function. Finally, not good news, a rare disease is diagnosed which explains everything and finally gives the doctors something to work with.

The story tells the tale from Susannahs point of view, which, she will tell you, she cannot remember fully everything. She pieces together her time where her brain was on fire by journals she kept, ones her family kept, oral history, and medical records and video tape from the hospital. She starts with the first symptom, takes us through the whole barrage of tests and misdiagnoses, and then to meeting the doctor who finally diagnosed her correctly and helped her get her life back. Not her old life but a new life she is just as happy to have.

As an RN, it was very interesting reading. There is just enough science in there, explained so that anyone can understand. But there is Susannah, someone you are rooting for because she is not some fictional character. She could be your sister, your niece, or you. You get frustrated and sad with her, and happy with her. Her ups and downs become your ups and downs or at least they did for me. And, I rarely do with a book or movie, but I cried at the end.

This is a tale of pushing yourself against all odds. Of needing to be better, and not knowing how to get from point a to point b. But doing your best to find answers.

Is Susannah totally cured? Will she ever remember her month of hell? Will she find the answers to her questions? You have to read the book.