A Stroke of Luck: Life, Crisis, and Rebirth of a Stroke Survivor

Ian W. Toal is a registered nurse in Barrie, Ontario.

This account of the author’s experiences as a stroke survivor is
intended to offer hope, guidance, and wisdom to others in the same
situation. The problem is that Dr. Howard Rocket is a hypomanic,
incurable optimist obsessed with his own importance.

The first third of the book details his accomplishments. The subsequent
account of the acute phase of the stroke reads like a bad novel, while
the rehab section (which is short) is full of reminders that Dr.
Rocket’s optimism and will are enough to overcome any obstacle.

The book is aptly named, because the author was indeed lucky. Many of
the activities that matter most to him (talking, executive function)
were left intact, and his physical abilities were restored to the point
where he was able to make plans to rollerblade. Nor does Dr. Rocket have
the dementia and altered mood states that commonly plague stroke
survivors.

A Stroke of Luck is not without its points of interest, but those
seeking information about strokes and their effects should look
elsewhere.