Scan barcode
kingarooski's review
4.0
A striking and dramatic depiction of Zara Slattery's time spent in a coma due to a very aggresive Staph-A infection. I loved the contrasting styles between what was happening to Zara and what she felt and saw in ther mind during her coma and her husband's experience of looking after their children, visiting Zara and dealing with her very serious health issue.
roomforastory's review
5.0
A graphic novel about Zara Slattery's experience of being in a drug-induced coma while she fought the ravages of necrotizing fasciitis. As someone who takes care of people in drug-induced comas and the wife of someone who experienced a coma (though not drug-induced), this account is fascinating and brought a better level of understanding of what those I care for may be experiencing.
I'm happy to have found this on my library's shelves. I don't think I would have come across it otherwise, but I'll be recommending it to my other ICU colleagues.
I'm happy to have found this on my library's shelves. I don't think I would have come across it otherwise, but I'll be recommending it to my other ICU colleagues.
sfletcher26's review
5.0
Lying sedated, and paralysed attached to a ventilator. Asleep to the outside world, thinking nothing, knowing nothing. This is myth of the unconscious person in an ITU. The reality though is that when you're trapped within your own mind the world bleeds in and your subconscious takes over creating a sometimes bizarre and frightening reality.
This is truely one of the best graphic novels ever, dark, frightening but equally filled with hope. An absolute must read for anyone who works or is thinking of working in an ITU.
This is truely one of the best graphic novels ever, dark, frightening but equally filled with hope. An absolute must read for anyone who works or is thinking of working in an ITU.
lukuisa's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
In May 2013 Zara Slattery’s persistent sore throat turned into a deadly bacterial infection, Necrotising Fasciitis, the “flesh-eating disease”. She goes under a drastic surgery (they have to amputate her leg to stop the infection from spreading), intensive care and a 15-day drug-induced coma. While in a coma, she experiences a bizarre journey of nightmarish scenes and figures.
The story is split between Slattery’s visions while in a coma and her husband’s diary, which shows how he and their family coped during the ordeal. It’s a harrowing thing to go through, the continuous fear of losing your loved one, and at the same time taking care of your children.
The graphic novel is a great form to tell a story like this. It wouldn’t be that effective to just write about what Slattery experienced during the coma. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the art style of the book. It was a little messy and overall just not to my taste.
The story is split between Slattery’s visions while in a coma and her husband’s diary, which shows how he and their family coped during the ordeal. It’s a harrowing thing to go through, the continuous fear of losing your loved one, and at the same time taking care of your children.
The graphic novel is a great form to tell a story like this. It wouldn’t be that effective to just write about what Slattery experienced during the coma. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the art style of the book. It was a little messy and overall just not to my taste.
sizrobe's review
4.0
Graphic memoir split between two people. A mother who is in a coma while her body fights off a flesh eating bacteria called necrotizing fasciitis, and a father who is trying to keep it together despite the fact that the wife very well may die. The husband's sections were all written in second person, which I found unique. Also, the wife's portions were surreal, barely coherent nightmares. A good book.