Review of My Stroke of Blessings
Posted: 02 Jun 2025, 11:41
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "My Stroke of Blessings" by Liv Rosin.]
Do you know anyone who has suffered a stroke? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you aware of the damage a stroke can do to you? Has your health care provider suggested ways to decrease your risk of having a stroke? Do you enjoy reading memoirs? If these questions have piqued your interest, you should read My Stroke of Blessings by Liv Rosin.
In 2011, Liv Rosin, a teacher at Mounds View High School in Minnesota, USA, was victimized by a stroke. In this memoir, Rosin described her stroke and how it affected her physically, emotionally, and mentally. Additionally, she recounted the process she followed to regain as much of her previous ability as she could—this included her hospital stay, rehabilitation therapy, reintegration into her home, and gradual return to her duties as a mother and teacher. She left no stone unturned in sharing how she managed her pain, anxiety, grief for the loss of her abilities, suicidal thoughts, and fear of addiction to painkillers.
I must note that this memoir had more to it than just sharing how problematic one’s life can become when they are a victim of a stroke. Rosin shared her experiences of being a church pastor’s daughter, a mother of three athletic children, a wife to a caring husband, a dedicated high school teacher, and a sister to a drug addict.
Rosin used a first-person narrative to recount her anecdotes. Her writing style was organized, clear, and explanatory. It was easy to put myself in her shoes because her words were simple, descriptive, and educational. The story flowed well and was chronologically organized.
I learned what it is like to be a victim of a stroke, grieve about a loss of autonomy, accept vulnerability, adopt a growth mindset, appreciate one’s blessings, and put in the effort required to retrain the brain. Additionally, I learned that it is a bad choice to ignore advice given by health professionals about managing one’s high blood pressure—taking prescribed medications and avoiding excessive consumption of caffeine can prevent a stroke.
I became familiar with many terms, and their meanings, related to a stroke: left neglect syndrome, proprioception, foot drop, neuroplasticity, hypoesthesia, baclofen, thalamic pain, ischemic stroke, growth mindset, esophageal dysphagia, and Dejerine-Roussy syndrome.
I enjoyed reading this memoir as it was interesting, humorous, well-written, educational, and professionally edited. Above all, it emphasized the importance of paying attention to high blood pressure; treating high blood pressure is better than recovering from a stroke. I had nothing negative to report about this book. I gave it a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
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My Stroke of Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Do you know anyone who has suffered a stroke? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you aware of the damage a stroke can do to you? Has your health care provider suggested ways to decrease your risk of having a stroke? Do you enjoy reading memoirs? If these questions have piqued your interest, you should read My Stroke of Blessings by Liv Rosin.
In 2011, Liv Rosin, a teacher at Mounds View High School in Minnesota, USA, was victimized by a stroke. In this memoir, Rosin described her stroke and how it affected her physically, emotionally, and mentally. Additionally, she recounted the process she followed to regain as much of her previous ability as she could—this included her hospital stay, rehabilitation therapy, reintegration into her home, and gradual return to her duties as a mother and teacher. She left no stone unturned in sharing how she managed her pain, anxiety, grief for the loss of her abilities, suicidal thoughts, and fear of addiction to painkillers.
I must note that this memoir had more to it than just sharing how problematic one’s life can become when they are a victim of a stroke. Rosin shared her experiences of being a church pastor’s daughter, a mother of three athletic children, a wife to a caring husband, a dedicated high school teacher, and a sister to a drug addict.
Rosin used a first-person narrative to recount her anecdotes. Her writing style was organized, clear, and explanatory. It was easy to put myself in her shoes because her words were simple, descriptive, and educational. The story flowed well and was chronologically organized.
I learned what it is like to be a victim of a stroke, grieve about a loss of autonomy, accept vulnerability, adopt a growth mindset, appreciate one’s blessings, and put in the effort required to retrain the brain. Additionally, I learned that it is a bad choice to ignore advice given by health professionals about managing one’s high blood pressure—taking prescribed medications and avoiding excessive consumption of caffeine can prevent a stroke.
I became familiar with many terms, and their meanings, related to a stroke: left neglect syndrome, proprioception, foot drop, neuroplasticity, hypoesthesia, baclofen, thalamic pain, ischemic stroke, growth mindset, esophageal dysphagia, and Dejerine-Roussy syndrome.
I enjoyed reading this memoir as it was interesting, humorous, well-written, educational, and professionally edited. Above all, it emphasized the importance of paying attention to high blood pressure; treating high blood pressure is better than recovering from a stroke. I had nothing negative to report about this book. I gave it a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
******
My Stroke of Blessings
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon