Making a career out of words, the author of this journey spent decades as a writer, editor, and tutor before embarking on the journey to become a speech-language pathologist working in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home. Collecting Durbin’s highs and lows in a series of short essays and observations, this book humanizes people in one of the most vulnerable situations one can find themselves in. The struggle to regain the ability to communicate after an accident or when suffering from a medical condition illustrates just how easy it is to take words for granted and how hard it can be to get them back once they’re gone. At once heartbreaking, inspiring, and humorous, these reflections on challenging work and the people for whom it is for will leave an immediate impact and put words to situations that can be difficult to face, let alone discuss.
These stories are powerfully human and transcend mere words on the page. Durbin’s full use of emotions captures the constant daily struggles of both patients and caregivers and gives plenty of room to celebrate the small victories and rays of hope. Attention is also given to the bureaucracy of organizational healthcare and how it presents a roadblock to both healers and those who need healing by restricting the amount of care received and putting an emphasis on efficiency over everything else. The great linguistic choices tell a complete story about a person in often less than a full page, meaning that difficult scenes need not be lingered upon. Without putting words in their mouths, this book shares so many people’s frustrations and challenges through the perspective of one person doing their best to help.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review