Mish's Reviews > Left Neglected

Left Neglected is an inspiring, informative and lightly humorous novel with a clear message for everyone to slow down and really think what they are doing. Our safety and life are not worth risking a deadline or an appointment.

Sarah Nickerson and her husband, Bob, have a busy lifestyle. Bob works for a company that is financially unstable, and Sarah has a high profile position as vice president for a consulting firm. They are parents to young children, juggling a demanding career and home life, working a 10 to 12 hour a day. You often see them in the middle making breakfast or driving the kids to school, either on the phone or computer catching up on work related issues. Sarah knew deep down she couldn’t continue like this - something will give. But she has debts to pay, and has been doing it for years. She’s determined and career driven and really loves her job. So thoughts about slowing down are usually pushed to one side. But Sarah’s luck ran out when she took her eyes of the road – for just a second - to fish out her phone to make a call. The consequences were completely tragic. Sarah had an accident that left her with a rare and severe brain injury that changed her life.

Firstly, I must say that I’ve never heard of this type of brain injury before reading this book. And for a moment at the beginning, I thought Ms. Genova was making it all up. It just seemed too surreal. But sure enough, when I Google it there is in fact a condition/injury to the brain, which commonly affects stroke victims, called Left Neglect (or Hemispatial Neglect) where the person cannot recognise the space around them on the left hand side. Once I realised the severity of this disability, all thoughts were racing though my mind about the potential danger a person can face. And how do you rehabilitate someone with this disability? How can a person gain back their independence and have a fulfilling life?

The one aspect I really like in Ms. Genova writing and storytelling of medical topics that she doesn’t elaborate on the medical particulars, but gave me (as a reader) exactly what I wanted, which is Sarah’s recovery; her insecurities about body image and relationship with her husband, adapting to the radical change in routine and around the home; the therapy involved, and the different exercise techniques used to stretch her mind and vision further to enhance her mobility. When you see/read the little progress that Sarah’s made and how far she’s come from the time of the accident to the present, it is really inspirational.

The family are wonderful and down to earth, which I connected with immensely. Sarah is intelligent, determined and very funny at times. And even though this journey is tough, draining and sometime embarrassing for her, she never lost her sense of humour throughout the book. Which made it light and an uplifting to read.

Lisa Genova has done a good thing here. Not only is it a brilliant story, she’s also increased awareness and understanding of this difficult and devastating condition.