108 Days: My Husband's Accident and How We Saved His Life by Lisa Lindell. Webster, Tex: March 5 Publishing; 2005. 289 pages, hardcover; $17.75

"Fighting to survive a critical injury, enduring an arrogant medical staff, and patronized by the Hostile Administration" are the words etched in the cover of this book. I read them thinking and hoping--say it is not so. The book cover is designed with paring eyes, and an electrocardiogram running with lightening bolts and flames, a really stunner!!

A true, riveting story of the 108 days that Curtis Lindell spent in the hospital and the heroine steps his wife and sister-in-law took to save him. On March 5, 2003, he was showered with electrical sparks at his work site. He sustained burns over more than 37% of his body. His wife Lisa, working cross town, received a call that Curtis was in an accident and taken to the hospital. The seriousness of the accident was not revealed. So many thoughts went through her mind as she drove to the medical facility; Curtis was fine he was strong, I would go and pick him and take him home, and he would have a few scraps. I would have the neighbor get the kids from school and we would be home for dinner. The medical facility was touted as having a world-class reputation, located on a hospital campus with many specialty areas, she could not find him. After wandering in and out of the many specialty emergency departments, asking for him, she found him. The doctors met with her in the waiting area and she learned the extent of his burns. Alone, overwhelmed, she wanted to see him and was escorted to his room and left. She walked up to his bedside to find him wrapped in gauze; his head, face, and hands covered and a white sheet draped over him. His eyes were wide open; it was Curtis, he was thirsty and shivering.

This book has a purpose and serves a vast audience. It is a fabulous education tool for hospital organizations and professional medical and nursing staff. It echoes back the words hospital staff speak everyday. It can be woven into communication curriculum for orienting new hospital staff. The lessons discovered are advocacy, patient bill of rights and family rights, ethics, and critical and crucial communication. Its daily journal format is a living diary of perseverance. It includes the treatment plan, the many doctors and nurses assigned to the case, complications, and the hospital policies and procedures, social services, family meetings, and finally the discharge plan. The largest hurdle Lisa had was family and overextended visitors. Curtis was falling, exhausted, and unable to communicate his need for rest. Lisa asked the family to limit their visits, but they did not. She asked the hospital for assistance in setting limits but to no avail in that visitors continued to sit by his bed side day after day. So frustrated and scared for his life, she watched her husband's energy dissolve and saw him spiral down with medical complications. Their young children at home needed her attention and with household responsibilities piling up, she barely slept. Dawn, her sister, was her angel and helped navigate the medical system, while helping with her children on weekends. Colleagues from their work were her next greatest source of help for her failing home.

This book does not have chapters, but rather it is in a journal format. A preface serves to get you started and is followed by the daily account of the 108 days, and then finally an epilogue.

The unique feature in this book is how 2 sisters developed a plan to care for Curtis. They instantly became his advocate and defenseman and let no medical procedure take place without full disclosure. When the staff seemed uncaring, they alternated staying the night to care for him. The book called Lisa's sister the chief gladiator of which I would agree. During the writing of the book, she was employed by the hospital organization and was working on a master's degree in nursing. She was shocked that so many complications could pile up for one patient. Although there were family meetings with members of the hospital administration to foster Curtis' recovery, the willingness of the department chairs and program directors to listen did not mount to a solution or resolution.

A medical facility's reputation is on the line here and so accuracy matters in this book. The author delivers a day-to-day account of Curtis' activities in the burn unit and the complications that occur. The medical information is accurate with laboratory results, ventilator settings, medications, procedures, tests ordered, consults, and the nursing care plan.

Lisa Lindell demonstrated true strength in sharing her husband's story of recovery. No blame is laid; she delivers the lesson of true advocacy for patients and asks that other families do the same. She recommends if a family member goes to the hospital that someone go with them. She tells this story with dignity and offers hope to those with burns. She shares what friends have offered and have done to improve her and Curtis' quality of life.

In closing, the Lindells have demonstrated where healthcare systems need to go. She stresses the relevance of critical and crucial conversations for positive patient outcomes. She has so much compassion and understanding. The significance of this book for healthcare professionals is to embrace and rejoice in compassion.

"An emotionally exhausting, but incredibly important book about medical mismanagement and how to protect yourself and your family," as stated by an online reviewer.

Lisa C. S. Riha, MSN, RNCS

Family Nurse Practitioner Riverside Regional Medical Center Riverside Business Health Newport News, Va