Cracked: My Life After A Skull Fracture

This book was inspirational as the author told everything he overcame after his accident. You could feel his frustration at times but also share the strides he made as he accomplished things he wasn't sure he would ever be able to do again. I enjoyed it and would recommend the book.

I was interested in reading Jim Barry's book because I myself experienced a TBI and have my own story to tell about my recovery. I think anyone who has had an injury or loves someone who has had one should read as many recovery stories as possible. Each and every story will be different because each person is injured and healthy in differing ways.

For me it was my non-visible functions that were broken - memory, facial recognition, finding words to speak etc. I could walk just fine, had only recurring headaches and dizziness for the outside world to see. In a lot of ways that made it harder because people didn't see me as "sick", they didn't see my struggle for recovery. I looked perfectly fine. For a long time I tried to convince myself show more I was perfectly fine.

For Jim Barry his body was ravaged while his mind stayed sharp - a different kind of battle ensued. He will never physically be the same even though he works at it every day. His struggle is obvious to those around him which gives him a benefit in one way - he doesn't have to PROVE he was injured - but it can make people uncomfortable in his presence, a totally different kind of loss that adds to the pain.

The one thing that hurt this story for me was the fact that Jim was able to get a lot of good care due to his generous financial resources. I think people who do not have those resources may be frustrated by what they CAN'T get to help themselves and it may discourage them. I know I found myself saying several times, "Well if I had had the money to get the help he did maybe I'd have gotten better." Some people will not get past that thought and will miss anything the story could teach them.

I do still think anyone in recovery or trying to help someone in recovery should read as many stories as possible. You never know when you will learn something of value. show less

A recount about and by a successful, active middle aged man of his recovery and life following a traumatic bike accident. While the recounting is amazing, I believe that this target audience would be mostly people working in the rehabilitation services, such as PT, OT, SLP, etc., or for someone who’s family member has gone through a similar experience. I thought it was a
little too specific for the general reader. But congrats to the author for his recovery, despite limitations!,,,

The story of Jim Barry who suffered a devastating fall from his bike that fractured his skull and transformed his life. I felt a connection with Jim in a couple of ways, being a cycling lover and fellow Wisconsin native.

Most of us as we age will probably encounter health trials and challenges. It is usually part of the process. In Jim's case his life was literally turned upside down in an instant. His story here relates to all he has endured since his accident and how his life today is still challenged daily much more that most would want to tolerate.

The narrative is detailed and quite descriptive in how he manages from day to day with the enumerable changes that have been brought to bear upon him. At times it gets a bit bogged down in show more the detail and probably relates to his being an engineer and an inclination for such. Yet it does not diminish the message for resolve and fortitude it takes for him to cope. And this is the real message I believe he is conveying here. The will to carry on. And we all can benefit from that message.

He does touch on some of his personal viewpoints on such things as religious belief and his thoughts and feelings of his condition. But he does spare us a lecture and portrays a dignity in coping as best he can and just maybe an inspiration for those going through difficulties or facing them for the future. Kudos to Jim Barry showing his path. show less

On October 12, 2012, Jim Barry’s life took a dramatic turn when he crashed riding a bike on a trail with a steep descent in the Vermont mountains. His skull was fractured which affected his balance, hearing and sight in his right eye. After intense care and therapy, he decided to write about his healing process to help those that may be interested in the effects of a traumatic brain injury.

It’s a 148-page book with a thorough and honest review of what happened. He touches on his hospital stay in New England and intense rehab that followed. He writes about not only the physical pain he endured but also about the mental anguish which caused major anxiety. Prior to the accident, he was on top of his career at 51 years old. Then, show more everything changed. This is not the first book about how someone’s life “cracked” under a traumatic situation.

He admits, he was fortunate to have funds for the best medical care and therapy treatments. He had the means to purchase not one but three wheelchairs. He renovated the house with ramps and a gym in the lower level. “I am lucky. Many disabled people have significant worries about money. I do not.” I wonder if this would turn off some readers.

In his handicapped life, he said he had to give up things which included his mountain bike, tandem bike, boats, pickup truck, woodworking gear, diving equipment, lake house, guns and backpacking equipment. He includes short chapters on his views which include religion, his choice of pets, how he managed with coronavirus and for those interested, yes, he continues to have sex with his wife.

His family and friends were by his side to give him support. The photos in the book are a nice addition. In this memoir, he shares how his life has changed and what he’s doing now. He wants to write fiction and said, “it means less research” than nonfiction. I bet some authors would be quick to challenge this.

My thanks to Rootstock Publishing and LibraryThing to review an advanced copy of the book with an expected release date of January 31, 2023. show less

I would have loved to be able to direct the families of patients to read this book when I worked Head Trauma Rehab. It is written by someone who has been there and worked hard to come to terms with the changes the damage has made. Jim details all of the hard won progress and the interdiscipinary team who worked with him to get to where he is now. Beyond that he goes into the kind of acceptance that must come with irrevocable changes the move on with the determination to be the very best that he can be in spite of those changes.
I won this book in a LibraryThing Giveaway from Rootstock Publishing. We win!

On October 12, 2012, Jim Barry’s life took a dramatic turn when he crashed riding a bike on a trail with a steep descent in the Vermont mountains. His skull was fractured which affected his balance, hearing and sight in his right eye. After intense care and therapy, he decided to write about his healing process to help others interested in the effects of a traumatic brain injury.

It’s a 148-page book with a thorough and honest review of what happened. He touches on his hospital stay in New England and intense rehab that followed. He writes about not only the physical pain he endured but also about the mental anguish which caused major anxiety. Prior to the accident, he was on top of his career at 51 years old. Then, everything show more changed. This is not the first book about how someone’s life “cracked” under a traumatic situation.

He admits, he was fortunate to have funds for the best medical care and therapy treatments. He had the means to purchase not one but three wheelchairs. He renovated the house with ramps and a gym in the lower level. “I am lucky. Many disabled people have significant worries about money. I do not.” I wonder if this would turn off some readers.

In his handicapped life, he said he had to give up things which included his mountain bike, tandem bike, boats, pickup truck, woodworking gear, diving equipment, lake house, guns and backpacking equipment. He includes short chapters on his views which include religion, his choice of pets, how he managed with coronavirus and for those interested, yes, he continues to have sex with his wife.

His family and friends were by his side to give him support. The photos in the book are a nice addition. In this memoir, he shares how his life has changed and what he’s doing now. He wants to write fiction and said, “it means less research” than nonfiction. I bet some authors would be quick to challenge this.

My thanks to Rootstock Publishing and LibraryThing for allowing me to review an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of January 31, 2023. show less