Do your worst, for I will do mine.

An uplifting account of Michael who, just as his life seemed perfect with a fiancee he loved and a work promotion offer, instead find himself thrust into an ongoing morass of pain and paralysis with a prognosis of a five year life expectation after his neck was broken. Months of hospitalization, infection and operations left him determined to make the most of the time he had left. It is also the story of his girlfriend, Donna, and of Michael's large Italian American family, and others touched on the way.

This is very much a book celebrating life and how it can change in an instant, but, though different, still should be lived to the fullest it can be. And the importance of other people. It is a true story, not a novel, but reads easily apart from a section towards the end of the book which becomes somewhat preachy. The road to partial recovery is detailed and difficult but conveyed with as gentle a touch as is possible whilst still explaining the dire difficulties involved. Similarly, Christopher DoQui's narration is upbeat and clearly follows the emotion of the text. The book is made more poignant for this reader since a friend died a few years ago who was himself quadriplegic, having broken his neck diving into a river some fifteen years before Michael's accident. The courage he displayed was phenomenal during the forty plus difficult years which came after.

This book was obviously written with love and the subject, Michael, is a true hero. This book deserves to be widely read: there is a lot of happiness here.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!