"Range of Motion"- Peering Through the Eyes of Family

 "Range of Motion," written by Elizabeth Berg, was crafted beautifully. The book is about a family who has been drastically impacted by a traumatic brain injury. Lainey, the main character, is the wife to Jay who has been in a coma for several weeks following a TBI. He was walking down the street and was hit on the head by a falling piece of ice. The book follows her journey as she battles her grief and despair for Jay's situation, while trying to maintain her positive outlook on life. What drives the story is the relationships she has with the women in her life and the staff at Jay's nursing home who become important supports. 

What struck me the most about Lainey's story was her ability to continue holding out hope even while she felt the urge to give up. I think what was relevant to me as a future OT was seeing how the healthcare professionals who cared for Jay treated him and Lainey. There was definite compartmentalization occurring for these healthcare professionals and it made Lainey feel like no one cared about her feelings or her grief. I think the family of a client is just as important as the client themselves, and we are there to offer guidance and support. I loved this book, and highly recommend it.