A review by lattelibrarian
What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness - Lessons from a Body in Revolt by Tessa Miller

informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

What Doesn't Kill You is an insightful look into Crohn's Disease and how it affects all aspects of one's life: friends, romance, work, and more, given the recent pandemic. Miller was diagnosed with Crohn's at a young age, quickly followed by a nasty C. Diff infection (and another, oh, and an E. Coli infection, too). Her lowest moments are arguably being hospitalized for weeks on end, or perhaps it's when she flies to Paris with her boyfriend after he hits her. It could even be needing said boyfriend's poop for a fecal transplant, or perhaps begging her health insurance via Twitter during a pandemic for her medication. Miller's had it rough, but she's quick to remind us that disabled people all deal with various issues, some better, some worse.

Miller discusses her illness, abuse, addiction, navigating health insurance, and beyond, making this biography an extremely helpful resource. It's clear Miller was born to write and she succeeds greatly at it. At the end, inspiringly, are moments of joy and happiness as experienced by 38 other people with an invisible disability. This rounds out the book in a way that is enjoyable and hopeful.