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As a teenager, Molly Case underwent an operation that saved her life. Nearly a decade later, she finds herself in the operating room again-this time as a trainee nurse. She learns to care for her patients, sharing not only their pain, but also life-affirming moments of hope. In doing so, she offers a compelling account of the processes that keep them alive, from respiratory examinations to surgical prep, and of the extraordinary moments of human connection that sustain both nurse and patient.
In rich, lyrical prose, Case illustrates the intricacies of the human condition through the hand of a stranger offered in solace, a gentle word in response to fear and anger, or the witnessing of a person's last breaths. It is these moments of empathy, in the extremis of human experience, that define us as people. But when Molly's father is admitted to the cardiac unit where she works, the professional and the personal suddenly collide.
Weaving together medical history, art, memoir, and science,
How to Treat People beautifully explores the oscillating rhythms of life and death in a tender reminder that we can all find meaning in being, even for a moment, part of the lives of others.
About the author
Molly Case is a spoken-word artist, writer, and nurse. She was born and raised in London, where she currently works at St. George's Hospital as a cardiac nurse specialist. Her writing has appeared in the
Guardian, the
Independent,
Elle magazine, and the
Huffington Post.
Summary
A fascinating and poignant memoir of the body and its care, told through the experiences of a young nurse.
