February 13, 2023
As MBA admissions coach Fogg reveals in her searing debut, her right hand was partially amputated in 2006 by a “sharp hunk of porcelain” sent flying when her toilet exploded. The author, then a v-p at American Express, took a leave from her job as she underwent surgery and physical therapy, sometimes struggling to even “recognize the hand as own.” As she grew frustrated with the recovery process, a friend gave her valuable advice: become an expert on her own injury to appreciate the complexities of healing. Fogg describes thrilling to the “tiny explosions” inside her wrist—an indication that her neurons were regrowing—and finally managing to write a signature “easily recognizable as mine.” Chapters on recovery discuss existential despair and dealing with lack of agency, and alternate with deep dives into the complexities of hand functionality, how the body registers pain, and the ways peripheral nerves regenerate. Through outpatient therapy, follow-up visits, and time, the author recovered most hand function, though not full sensation. Fogg’s blending of emotional and medical insights delivers an original perspective on the usual recovery arc. This enthralls.
April 15, 2023
Fogg's right hand is severely damaged when the toilet in her Brooklyn apartment explodes. By stanching the blood with a towel, managing to call 911, and getting help from neighbors and paramedics, she survives. A team of skilled surgeons reattach torn ligaments, fixing her "spaghetti wrist," leading to endless rounds of therapy, pain, and adjustments. This is where the author turns lemons into lemonade. An acquaintance who had suffered a similar injury encourages her to explore the science behind her body as a way to spark healing, and Fogg jumps in. Digging into medical books, questioning doctors, and searching on the internet, she is able to piece together an accessible version of the steps her surgeons took, the way the body heals, and the way the mind overcomes trauma. In alternating chapters, Fogg balances the story of her step-by-step recovery with this scientific data, creating a fascinating mix of drama and science. Readers will be reminded of the everyday miracles we so often take for granted and feel inspired by Fogg's determined steps to regain her life.
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