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I'm A Little Brain Dead
Nominated for INDIES Book of the Year in Humor from Foreword Reviews Winner, Writers Digest Self Published Awards - Honorable Mention for Life StoriesWinner Finalist for Humor, 2018 International Book AwardsWinner Finalist for Humor, 2018 Readers Favorite AwardsWinner Top Ten Indie Book of 2018, Amy's Bookshelf"Panicking never helps." Tuesday's breakfast was interrupted by a stroke, and the only available help is the author's second grader. Launched into a medical crisis, Kimberly Davis Basso (and her brain) respond with wit, wisdom, and wishful thinking. From surviving a stroke to surviving a zombie apocalypse, "I'm a Little Brain Dead" is alarmingly irreverent. No matter how critical or ridiculous the situation, Kimberly abides by their family rule "Panicking never helps." You'll get an inside look at being a middle aged stroke patient as she hosts a neurological event, juggles doctors, undergoes a heart procedure and asks the really big question - how tiny is tiny when it refers to dead tissue? What would you do? Are you prepared to have a medical crisis, unable to speak or walk? Would your kids know what to do? It's time to make an escape plan. Kimberly will walk (or rather shuffle) readers through her experience in an honest, hilarious look at the site of the world's smallest zombie apocalypse - her brain.
107 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2018
4 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Davis Basso
5 books47 followersHello! The best way to reach me is via my website, www.KimberlyDavisBasso.com. I also lurk around on twitter and instagram @KDBWrites on occasion. Thanks for stopping by, here's a few bits about me, written in third person so I sound important:
Kimberly Davis Basso is a writer, director, playwright, educator and spokesperson. Born and raised in New England she now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, children, and the many pets her children adopt. Current count of three dogs, three cats, and whatever her son just brought in from the garden.
Please get in touch in whatever digital form makes you happy, you can message me but best is email, KDBassoWrites@gmail.com
All the social platforms: @KDBWrites
(IG, Twitter, FB, Mastodon, Hive, carrier pigeons, little notes wadded up and passed during class. Get in touch) but if you want to talk Shakespeare, I'm @atwasinc on Instagram. Or just email me. Write me a letter for crying out loud all I get are bills. Thanks! Have a clot free day!
Have a clot free day!
Kimberly Davis Basso is a writer, director, playwright, educator and spokesperson. Born and raised in New England she now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, children, and the many pets her children adopt. Current count of three dogs, three cats, and whatever her son just brought in from the garden.
Please get in touch in whatever digital form makes you happy, you can message me but best is email, KDBassoWrites@gmail.com
All the social platforms: @KDBWrites
(IG, Twitter, FB, Mastodon, Hive, carrier pigeons, little notes wadded up and passed during class. Get in touch) but if you want to talk Shakespeare, I'm @atwasinc on Instagram. Or just email me. Write me a letter for crying out loud all I get are bills. Thanks! Have a clot free day!
Have a clot free day!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 22, 2019
What can I say?
I can trot out the usual words saying 'brave','bold', 'inspiring' and 'heartwarming' but this does not even scratch the surface of this amazing memoir.
Sweary, brutally honest and open are also what this book is, it is much needed to bring a realistic and accessible account of stroke to those who may think it only affects older people.
At a time when public awareness of stroke and the effects of it, support for those undergoing it and how to reduce stressors which contribute towards it, are being raised by people such as Emilia Clarke,this book takes on even greater meaning.
How do you maintain a healthy sex life after a stroke?
Are you a safe parent?
How do you get people to see you as a person who has suffered a stroke rather than a sick person, or a victim of an unexpected event, how do you maintain that sense of self in the face of medical checks, regimens, fear of the next stroke?
Where do you go from here?
KD Basso doesn't promise to have all the answers but she does have knowledge, insight and a brilliant sense of humour (the title should give you an inkling) about how she went about getting her life back after the bottom fell out of her world.Representation, visibility and awareness are so important and I thoroughly recommend this book.
*also I fucking love the swearing !*
I can trot out the usual words saying 'brave','bold', 'inspiring' and 'heartwarming' but this does not even scratch the surface of this amazing memoir.
Sweary, brutally honest and open are also what this book is, it is much needed to bring a realistic and accessible account of stroke to those who may think it only affects older people.
At a time when public awareness of stroke and the effects of it, support for those undergoing it and how to reduce stressors which contribute towards it, are being raised by people such as Emilia Clarke,this book takes on even greater meaning.
How do you maintain a healthy sex life after a stroke?
Are you a safe parent?
How do you get people to see you as a person who has suffered a stroke rather than a sick person, or a victim of an unexpected event, how do you maintain that sense of self in the face of medical checks, regimens, fear of the next stroke?
Where do you go from here?
KD Basso doesn't promise to have all the answers but she does have knowledge, insight and a brilliant sense of humour (the title should give you an inkling) about how she went about getting her life back after the bottom fell out of her world.Representation, visibility and awareness are so important and I thoroughly recommend this book.
*also I fucking love the swearing !*
September 9, 2018
Way too much swearing, so much so that I nearly stopped reading halfway through. I kept at it and ended up mostly enjoying this medical tale. I appreciated her suggestions at the end for teaching kids when and how to call 911, and her suggestions for what information to have readily available in case your child ever needs to save your life in an emergency.
September 21, 2018
It doesn’t feel quite right to say this was hilarious. An account of a forty-four-year-young woman’s experience of a stroke shouldn’t be funny, should it? Shouldn’t it be sad, unfortunate, hopeful, informative, inspiring? Well, it’s all those things. But, BUT…Basso has a wicked, wicked sense of humour which she injects into this diary of her unpleasant experience. Hilarious yes, but you laugh WITH her, not at her.
I don’t read many books like this…so, not only to be persuaded but then actually enjoy them means they must be special.
Once you get over the shock of someone so young (a fact shared by pretty much all the medical staff who treated Basso) having a stroke, you sit very comfortably by Basso as she relates the months from her post-breakfast trauma and her journey through treatment and recovery.
She shrouds virtually the whole thing in a veil of comedy but puts her serious hat on at the end to spell out what such an event entails and what you can learn from it.
Basso writes very articulately, but at the same time, there's an endearing chattiness in her narrative ,and you almost feel Basso is there beside you telling you all about it. She's wonderfully witty...I'd love to meet her. This really was a pleasure to read
I don’t read many books like this…so, not only to be persuaded but then actually enjoy them means they must be special.
Once you get over the shock of someone so young (a fact shared by pretty much all the medical staff who treated Basso) having a stroke, you sit very comfortably by Basso as she relates the months from her post-breakfast trauma and her journey through treatment and recovery.
She shrouds virtually the whole thing in a veil of comedy but puts her serious hat on at the end to spell out what such an event entails and what you can learn from it.
Basso writes very articulately, but at the same time, there's an endearing chattiness in her narrative ,and you almost feel Basso is there beside you telling you all about it. She's wonderfully witty...I'd love to meet her. This really was a pleasure to read
August 11, 2018
Even zombies will laugh
Great read - quick, fun, funny, heartwarming and reassuring. I could go on with the adjectives. A memoir by someone who has lived, loved, and survived. Everyone should read the appendices for their real-life value. But you have to read the rest of the book first for all the context.
Great read - quick, fun, funny, heartwarming and reassuring. I could go on with the adjectives. A memoir by someone who has lived, loved, and survived. Everyone should read the appendices for their real-life value. But you have to read the rest of the book first for all the context.
June 3, 2019
When reading a person’s account of a particular traumatic event, words like “brave” and “inspiring” are often trotted out by reviewers. And while those two particular words, plus many more that are similar could be used for I’m a Little Brain Dead; one that might be a bit odd to add would be “funny”.
Because that’s what I’m a Little Brain Dead is, funny.
At the young age of forty-four, Kimberly Basso had a stroke. An honest-to-God stroke. What happens next; from having her 8 year old calling 9-1-1 through to the MRI’s and countless tests to an eventual diagnosis, Basso somehow handles it all with a hefty dose of wit and humor. She does get a bit maudlin towards the end, but given the subject she is writing about, this can be easily forgiven. It’s not every day one faces their own mortality.
I will warn some readers, Basso likes to swear in this book. Some may find it off-putting, while others (like myself) will simply take it in stride. This is her story and she is telling it how she wants to.
Being close in age to Basso but also going through much of what she did with my mother, reading I’m a Little Brain Dead hit very close to home. Personally, I enjoyed it and recommend it to all my readers. Not just for the goodly amount of information it has, but also for the zombie jokes.
May 2, 2019
I’m a Little Brain dead is a very frank and real story based on Basso’s legit stroke. It follows Basso and her experience during her stroke with her little and very brave eight year old and baby, at the very young age of 44, right through to going to the emergency room, and navigating the various doctor appointments, home life, and the eventual terrifying brain surgery to try and fix the problem. The book was written through her point of view which was pretty hilarious, but also very raw and honest, especially on such a serious and very real subject. It was also written through what she was experiencing in her mind, which was a total jumble of words, it sort of felt like you were working out a puzzle throughout the book, pretty good for the brain and was a challenging and funny read.
I enjoyed Basso’s humor in this book. Obviously strokes are no laughing matter, but I actually really enjoyed the play of sharp wit and bluntness in this book, it made it all feel almost bearable, to go through such a heavy and scary experience, but seeing it with a bit of humor makes it a little easier to deal with.
I enjoyed Basso’s humor in this book. Obviously strokes are no laughing matter, but I actually really enjoyed the play of sharp wit and bluntness in this book, it made it all feel almost bearable, to go through such a heavy and scary experience, but seeing it with a bit of humor makes it a little easier to deal with.
January 21, 2019
Definitely worth the read. I had to keep running to the bathroom, due to the hilarity of the book. I never thought I'd laugh about a stroke.
June 5, 2019
"The brain dead part is that I've just told you this story. No one ever had to know."
Given the personal nature of Basso's debut novel, one might be readily inclined to agree with the above quote in the book's curtain call. However, having read 'I'm a Little Brain Dead,' I'm left thoroughly convinced of the opposite.
The plot follows Basso's time in hospital, having suffered a stroke at home, with the author weaving her way through a seemingly endless stream of medical staff, terms, and procedures. On paper, the story runs the risk of coming across as more of a medical journal than a working narrative. Basso, however, for the most part, seems to have a great understanding of how to navigate along this paper thin line.
The writing itself helps detach the book from early misconceptions, with its easy flow and Derek Landy-esque pace, sacrificing the right amount of detail without slowing the story down to a dull funeral march. Furthermore, you get the sense that, whilst you're left positively anxious at what is happening to Basso during the course of the book, she is rather enjoying writing about her own experiences.
"Nope, not a TIA, I had a stroke, a real stroke, an actual stroke. A TIA would have been cooler, and not just because it means no permanent brain damage. A TIA means Trans Ischemic Attack. Being under attack makes me sound tough, whereas my CVA [Cerebrovascular Accident] just makes me sound clumsy."
The beauty of Basso's novel lies in its profound humanity, not just simply in the ready supply of witticisms or the author's consistent references to The Walking Dead. Rather, it is expressed mainly through a level of introspection so honest and relatable that you almost feel as if you are experiencing Basso's plight yourself.
For anyone who prizes humour in their reads, I could very easily recommend, 'I'm a Little Brain Dead,' but to do so would be to grossly diminish what this novel offers. This isn't simply a medical journal critiquing America's health system, nor is it simply a self-congratulatory piece about how incredible Basso is for surviving her stroke. It's a charmingly honest and humorously self-deprecating account of her own mind, and other people, stapled together with a core life lesson that we can all appreciate:
"...no matter how integral you are to the lives around you, don't forget that you're still just damn lucky to be there."
Given the personal nature of Basso's debut novel, one might be readily inclined to agree with the above quote in the book's curtain call. However, having read 'I'm a Little Brain Dead,' I'm left thoroughly convinced of the opposite.
The plot follows Basso's time in hospital, having suffered a stroke at home, with the author weaving her way through a seemingly endless stream of medical staff, terms, and procedures. On paper, the story runs the risk of coming across as more of a medical journal than a working narrative. Basso, however, for the most part, seems to have a great understanding of how to navigate along this paper thin line.
The writing itself helps detach the book from early misconceptions, with its easy flow and Derek Landy-esque pace, sacrificing the right amount of detail without slowing the story down to a dull funeral march. Furthermore, you get the sense that, whilst you're left positively anxious at what is happening to Basso during the course of the book, she is rather enjoying writing about her own experiences.
"Nope, not a TIA, I had a stroke, a real stroke, an actual stroke. A TIA would have been cooler, and not just because it means no permanent brain damage. A TIA means Trans Ischemic Attack. Being under attack makes me sound tough, whereas my CVA [Cerebrovascular Accident] just makes me sound clumsy."
The beauty of Basso's novel lies in its profound humanity, not just simply in the ready supply of witticisms or the author's consistent references to The Walking Dead. Rather, it is expressed mainly through a level of introspection so honest and relatable that you almost feel as if you are experiencing Basso's plight yourself.
For anyone who prizes humour in their reads, I could very easily recommend, 'I'm a Little Brain Dead,' but to do so would be to grossly diminish what this novel offers. This isn't simply a medical journal critiquing America's health system, nor is it simply a self-congratulatory piece about how incredible Basso is for surviving her stroke. It's a charmingly honest and humorously self-deprecating account of her own mind, and other people, stapled together with a core life lesson that we can all appreciate:
"...no matter how integral you are to the lives around you, don't forget that you're still just damn lucky to be there."
May 20, 2019
Ms. Basso’s book is very brief at 96 pages, half memoir and half PSA, and 100% worth reading. Her experience might shake your faith in the medical community, as she endures several tests and ends up with 3 different diagnosis/treatment plans. There’s a little warning in this, to educate yourself as much as possible on your health situation, ask questions, and if you’re not sure you’ve got the right answer then keep asking. There’s a reason people recommend getting a second (or third) opinion from health care providers.
The topic is a little dire, but Ms. Basso peppers her account with humorous references to “The Walking Dead.” Sometimes the language is a bit colorful, but nothing to severe in my opinion. In fact, you probably hear worse on “The Walking Dead!” She explain some of the medical terminology in plain English, which is helpful. She also spends a bit of time talking about afterward, recalling what she lost and how she now functions. For me, it’s an eye-opener of what I may need to look for, without making me overly paranoid about the prospect. The best part – and what probably saved her – is that her eight-year-old daughter was the one who had to summon help. Fortunately, the child had a first-aid training class in the Girl Scouts going over this very subject. The book ends with suggestions for how to talk to your kids about such things and how best to be prepared for such emergencies. This is good advice that every parent should consider.
The topic is a little dire, but Ms. Basso peppers her account with humorous references to “The Walking Dead.” Sometimes the language is a bit colorful, but nothing to severe in my opinion. In fact, you probably hear worse on “The Walking Dead!” She explain some of the medical terminology in plain English, which is helpful. She also spends a bit of time talking about afterward, recalling what she lost and how she now functions. For me, it’s an eye-opener of what I may need to look for, without making me overly paranoid about the prospect. The best part – and what probably saved her – is that her eight-year-old daughter was the one who had to summon help. Fortunately, the child had a first-aid training class in the Girl Scouts going over this very subject. The book ends with suggestions for how to talk to your kids about such things and how best to be prepared for such emergencies. This is good advice that every parent should consider.
March 27, 2019
It should be noted that the term ASD is not just a grown up word for PFO and are not medically interchangeable acronyms. There is a distinctions between these two conditions and they are different anomalies.
This book is sadly very relatable for me. I suffered a CVA at the age of 28. I’ve also had multiple TIAs. This book was a funny retelling of her experience. I wish she would have stressed the study abt the PFO repair not showing distinct differences in those without the repair. However, since she chose the repair for herself, she didn’t show a very unbiased opinion of those of us who do not or cannot have the repair done. Lucky for her that this was her only big health scare and I hope it stays her only for her entire life. I’m still very disturbed by the fact that she laid on an ER floor, but maybe I’m strange for having that as a lasting impression from this entire book stick in the forefront of my mind.
This book is sadly very relatable for me. I suffered a CVA at the age of 28. I’ve also had multiple TIAs. This book was a funny retelling of her experience. I wish she would have stressed the study abt the PFO repair not showing distinct differences in those without the repair. However, since she chose the repair for herself, she didn’t show a very unbiased opinion of those of us who do not or cannot have the repair done. Lucky for her that this was her only big health scare and I hope it stays her only for her entire life. I’m still very disturbed by the fact that she laid on an ER floor, but maybe I’m strange for having that as a lasting impression from this entire book stick in the forefront of my mind.
September 9, 2018
Incredible memoirs
The author shares her memoirs in "I'm a little Brain Dead" as she suffered a stroke. She takes a serious part of her life, and turns it into something interestingly humorous, so much that you almost feel bad for smiling at her words. It's a powerful thing for people to share their experiences, especially with something like a stroke. The book is a unique perspective, and also shares some of her experiences which provide information that could be very helpful, even save a life. She has an incredible outlook on life and her experiences. I applaud her sharing her words with such intensity and bravery. I look forward to reading more stories from this new author.
The author shares her memoirs in "I'm a little Brain Dead" as she suffered a stroke. She takes a serious part of her life, and turns it into something interestingly humorous, so much that you almost feel bad for smiling at her words. It's a powerful thing for people to share their experiences, especially with something like a stroke. The book is a unique perspective, and also shares some of her experiences which provide information that could be very helpful, even save a life. She has an incredible outlook on life and her experiences. I applaud her sharing her words with such intensity and bravery. I look forward to reading more stories from this new author.
September 24, 2018
Loved it. The book got philosophical near the end, which isn't a bad thing but it felt like a leap after getting so much humor in the earlier parts. Speaking of humor, I commend KDB on taking a very un-funny subject and presenting it in a funny way. You don't want to laugh. You'll laugh anyway. She's great. On top of it all, you'll learn a ton about strokes. Bonus, right? Right on.
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I'm honestly glad I read this book. My mother has suffered two bad strokes over the past few years and has not come through either of them well. This book actually helped me understand more about what happened to her. Appreciate your brains, folks. Or just brain, singular. You know what I meant.
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I'm honestly glad I read this book. My mother has suffered two bad strokes over the past few years and has not come through either of them well. This book actually helped me understand more about what happened to her. Appreciate your brains, folks. Or just brain, singular. You know what I meant.
August 23, 2019
KDB! This book is smart and funny, informed and informative. What would you do if you had a stroke? What would your kids do, your loved ones? What about your brain? Your body? I saw a reference to Erma Bombeck somewhere—and yup, imagine her telling you about hospitals and zombies and how to successfully balance fear and hope. Hint: it takes saltiness and sass, sweetness and sight. I also saw (ok, this is Twitterfeed now) that this saved a life. It might save yours someday. And if not, this hilarious romp might save someone else’s. It’s always a good, good thing when we get a chance to read a book that can do that, any day of the week. As they say about the first signs of stroke, don’t wait. Read this one today. Bravo!
August 31, 2018
I found myself laughing to the point of tears at times. Profound and spot on, according to some I’ve talked to about stroke.
My only note: a TIA is a transient ischemic attack. I’ve had one myself. Sort of a mini-stroke or a wannabe. Not sure ... also, scary as crap.
This book is a gem!
My only note: a TIA is a transient ischemic attack. I’ve had one myself. Sort of a mini-stroke or a wannabe. Not sure ... also, scary as crap.
This book is a gem!
August 19, 2018
Great
Humor and information about a scary topic. Well done! Glad everything worked out. Looking forward to reading more by the author
Humor and information about a scary topic. Well done! Glad everything worked out. Looking forward to reading more by the author
January 19, 2019
Thoroughly enjoying reading this book! It's so raw and honest, but absolutely hilarious at the same time. Was in absolute stitches (Corkonian slang for laughing so much you've a pain in your side!) reading certain passages, like! Loved Kimberly's description of an MRI as have had them myself and her metaphors rang true but incredibly funny at the same time. Kudos to herself for writing this account and her little daughter for acting so calm and courageous when her mom suffered a stroke. Will be keeping an eye out for her next book, but hope it doesn't turn Schatzi off labour wards!!
September 6, 2018
Kimberly Basso writes in a very funny stream of, nay, torrent of consciousness. The style of her prose is akin to 3 coked up cats in a bag; at once achingly self aware and devastatingly frantic. The incident starting it all, a stroke, is as scary as any medical issue you can imagine. The way she deals with the frightening situation is through humor and what course of action would she take if the zombie apocalypse happened at that very moment. I reacted to her book the way I did Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, laughing out loud at many passages. So buckle up and be glad she survived the ordeal so she could write it all down.
December 27, 2018
basso’s story of her stroke(s) and its(their) aftermath is both real and funny, reminding the reader to be smart, take care, and have fun along this journey of life that we all share.
June 2, 2019
GENRE: Memoir | Medical Literature
SETTING: An ER on a Tuesday morning
PLOT: Kimberly’s Tuesday starts as normal and ends with a stroke. In her young 40’s, she doesn’t fit the mold for stroke patients. This novella (a quick 100 pages) describes the author’s experience of having a neurological event and the people she encounters through the medical system.
OPINION: So here’s the deal. I am an ER doc. I see patients like Kimberly every day. Ok, not EXACTLY like Kimberly, because she’s right - they don’t present like her. She’s young, healthy, risk free - and she still had a neurological event. But that is what makes this book so good to read - because patients don’t always fit the prescribed model.
Kimberly approaches her stroke with humor, wit, and sarcasm. And what I liked the best? How insistent she is that people know the signs and symptoms of a stroke...and further more, to make sure we teach our kids how to dial 9-1-1.
If you like medical stories, particularly if you are a physician, resident, medical student, nurse, or first responder, then you should read this book. Experience what it’s like to go over your history again...and again...and again...and AGAIN.
STAR RATING: 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯/5
SETTING: An ER on a Tuesday morning
PLOT: Kimberly’s Tuesday starts as normal and ends with a stroke. In her young 40’s, she doesn’t fit the mold for stroke patients. This novella (a quick 100 pages) describes the author’s experience of having a neurological event and the people she encounters through the medical system.
OPINION: So here’s the deal. I am an ER doc. I see patients like Kimberly every day. Ok, not EXACTLY like Kimberly, because she’s right - they don’t present like her. She’s young, healthy, risk free - and she still had a neurological event. But that is what makes this book so good to read - because patients don’t always fit the prescribed model.
Kimberly approaches her stroke with humor, wit, and sarcasm. And what I liked the best? How insistent she is that people know the signs and symptoms of a stroke...and further more, to make sure we teach our kids how to dial 9-1-1.
If you like medical stories, particularly if you are a physician, resident, medical student, nurse, or first responder, then you should read this book. Experience what it’s like to go over your history again...and again...and again...and AGAIN.
STAR RATING: 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯/5
August 8, 2018
I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you.
June 25, 2018
As my friends and I slide into mid-life, we find ourselves reading books about our relative health, the declining health of our parents, and, inevitably, death. And while these sorts of books are often thought-provoking and discussion-starting, I can't imagine describing the reading itself as enjoyable. Kimberly Davis Basso's I'm a Little Brain Dead shatters the mold on these "you should start thinking about your health" books and brings much more to the reader than important information, namely laughter. Basso's chronicle of her experience with stroke reads like a one-woman show, owing to her decades-long career in the theater, and is equal parts informational, irreverent, touching, and hilarious. It's no wonder that I'm a Little Brain Dead was recognized by the International Book Awards for humor, as Basso's witty voice shines through in every part of the telling. I wish that I could have Basso in my head every time I faced an uncertain medical adventure, I would surely be entertained for the duration.
February 13, 2020
That someone could be born with a hole in the heart and be fine for 44 years should give us all pause. When one--or more like three--clots got batted out of Kimberly D Basso's heart and zoomed their merry ways out through to whatever nice place they could find to land, hitting points that impacted her legs and speech, that event might be called a stroke. Basso was willing to call it one. The author makes it clear it was not going to be confirmed as a stroke until doctors did one hundred and one scary, dehumanizing tests that all seemed to be tainted by glitches.
In a hospital, glitches are no one's fault. They make the patient's life miserable, but no one who is on a life-saving team should be blamed (if the patient knows what is good for her). When what was experienced one fateful Tuesday morning was finally called a stroke, one doctor nuanced the term by adding "first" as in "first stroke," and he did that because adding "first" gave him the right to not make a decision.
Man, did I learn a lot from this book and I have been to the hospital a bunch of times! I have been dehumanized too, but I see I have not experienced the full monty. I would mention the chair they put Basso in, but that would be a spoiler. Folks, you've gotta read this if you like belly laughs over one of the world's most essential places that none of us really wants to go to--but we all want it within ten minutes. Starts with an h but it is not home and I already wrote the word in this paragraph.
Absolutely, wonderfully funny--if you have EVER found doctors just a teensy bit frustrating.
(Of course we all appreciate them too, and thank them for helping us.)
But laughter is the best medicine!
In a hospital, glitches are no one's fault. They make the patient's life miserable, but no one who is on a life-saving team should be blamed (if the patient knows what is good for her). When what was experienced one fateful Tuesday morning was finally called a stroke, one doctor nuanced the term by adding "first" as in "first stroke," and he did that because adding "first" gave him the right to not make a decision.
Man, did I learn a lot from this book and I have been to the hospital a bunch of times! I have been dehumanized too, but I see I have not experienced the full monty. I would mention the chair they put Basso in, but that would be a spoiler. Folks, you've gotta read this if you like belly laughs over one of the world's most essential places that none of us really wants to go to--but we all want it within ten minutes. Starts with an h but it is not home and I already wrote the word in this paragraph.
Absolutely, wonderfully funny--if you have EVER found doctors just a teensy bit frustrating.
(Of course we all appreciate them too, and thank them for helping us.)
But laughter is the best medicine!
February 8, 2020
"I look around a room full of people experiencing perhaps the most vulnerable moments of their lives in full view of not just the strangers helping us, but other strangers with their own life or death issues. We're a gallery of sculptures conceived by a madman and dressed by my old Italian aunts -- blue housecoats for everybody!! And the kicker is, nobody minds. If you fix me, I will wear my blue housecoat and my octopus of medical tubes and sticky bits and I will sit in a hallway with my ass hanging out if need be. Just. Fix. Me."
If you enjoy memoirs and zombies, this book is for you. Sound like an odd combination? Perhaps it is, but it's also a strangely hilarious look at the aftermath of a stroke. Kimberly was 44 years old, home alone with her 8 year old daughter and toddler son, when she had a stroke on an otherwise normal Tuesday. I'm a Little Brain Dead is her story during and after, with all the fun of an ER visit and an MRI, and trying to understand what exactly happened and how it can be stopped from happening again.
I don't normally read nonfiction or memoirs but I'm so glad I read this book. It's funny and brutally honest, and I'm pretty sure I would not be half as calm in a crisis. Am I also slightly paranoid that my body is going to suddenly turn on me? Yes, yes I am. But what I most liked about this book is how real it is and how real Kimberly talks about what happened. She's very upfront about not being a medical expert and instead it's like hearing a friend or family member discuss MRIs and procedures and doctors. It's real, and it's encouraging to see her struggle through everything and come out on top.
"Isn't it comforting when you pre-determine you Zombie Escape Route? Really, could there be a better sign of mental health?"
If you enjoy memoirs and zombies, this book is for you. Sound like an odd combination? Perhaps it is, but it's also a strangely hilarious look at the aftermath of a stroke. Kimberly was 44 years old, home alone with her 8 year old daughter and toddler son, when she had a stroke on an otherwise normal Tuesday. I'm a Little Brain Dead is her story during and after, with all the fun of an ER visit and an MRI, and trying to understand what exactly happened and how it can be stopped from happening again.
I don't normally read nonfiction or memoirs but I'm so glad I read this book. It's funny and brutally honest, and I'm pretty sure I would not be half as calm in a crisis. Am I also slightly paranoid that my body is going to suddenly turn on me? Yes, yes I am. But what I most liked about this book is how real it is and how real Kimberly talks about what happened. She's very upfront about not being a medical expert and instead it's like hearing a friend or family member discuss MRIs and procedures and doctors. It's real, and it's encouraging to see her struggle through everything and come out on top.
"Isn't it comforting when you pre-determine you Zombie Escape Route? Really, could there be a better sign of mental health?"
February 22, 2020
I’m a Little Brain Dead is Kimberly Davis Basso’s debut book and personal account of having a stroke at the age of 44. You’re probably not expecting me to say this ...but this book is hilarious!!
The author takes us through her whole traumatic experience. From her trip to the ER, hospital stay, Dr’s appointments, MRI and ultimately brain surgery. She does it with frankness, cursing, honesty and lots of humor. It’s part memoir but also extremely informative on very serious topics. How to identify stroke symptoms, how to teach our kids to respond to emergencies and how to be our own best advocate when it comes to our health. A great debut and I will definitely be picking up her new book which comes out this week... Birth and Other Surprises.
“Nope, not a TIA, I had a stroke, a real stroke, an actual stroke. A TIA would have been cooler, and not just because it means no permanent brain damage. A TIA means Trans Ischemic Attack. Being under attack makes me sound tough, whereas my CVA just makes me sound clumsy. It was a Cerebrovascular Accident. As in, oops, there went a piece of my brain! Where did I put that? It’s actually Acute Cerebrovascular Accident, because there are attractive brains and unattractive brains, and mine is adorable.”
The author takes us through her whole traumatic experience. From her trip to the ER, hospital stay, Dr’s appointments, MRI and ultimately brain surgery. She does it with frankness, cursing, honesty and lots of humor. It’s part memoir but also extremely informative on very serious topics. How to identify stroke symptoms, how to teach our kids to respond to emergencies and how to be our own best advocate when it comes to our health. A great debut and I will definitely be picking up her new book which comes out this week... Birth and Other Surprises.
“Nope, not a TIA, I had a stroke, a real stroke, an actual stroke. A TIA would have been cooler, and not just because it means no permanent brain damage. A TIA means Trans Ischemic Attack. Being under attack makes me sound tough, whereas my CVA just makes me sound clumsy. It was a Cerebrovascular Accident. As in, oops, there went a piece of my brain! Where did I put that? It’s actually Acute Cerebrovascular Accident, because there are attractive brains and unattractive brains, and mine is adorable.”
October 16, 2020
Kimberly Basso masterfully took the very serious topic of experiencing a stroke and added just the right amount of humor to make this an enjoyable yet eye opening piece of work. Kimberly takes us through her morning that started out like any other and ended in her 8 year old daughter saving her life with a 911 call.
I felt like I was right there with her as she navigated this “neurological event” including hospitals, doctors, multiple medical tests and a heart procedure. I think my seat mate on the plane thought I was having some type of episode myself. I alternated between laughing out loud and my serious face as I looked up medical terms and tried to memorize how to prepare your family to recognize and respond to a stroke. This is a terrifying topic to me since it has already devastated the lives of many I know. I appreciate
the honesty, humor and wisdom with which it was delivered. I look forward to the author’s next book!
I felt like I was right there with her as she navigated this “neurological event” including hospitals, doctors, multiple medical tests and a heart procedure. I think my seat mate on the plane thought I was having some type of episode myself. I alternated between laughing out loud and my serious face as I looked up medical terms and tried to memorize how to prepare your family to recognize and respond to a stroke. This is a terrifying topic to me since it has already devastated the lives of many I know. I appreciate
the honesty, humor and wisdom with which it was delivered. I look forward to the author’s next book!
February 9, 2020
I am guilty of watching medical shows like Grey's Anatomy but when it's a real account of someone's medical journey, especially one as serious as a stroke, it hits the emotions differently.
Thank you to the author Kimberly for her detailed account of her experience with her unexpected stroke, the insight into the medical adventures (ups and downs) and sharing with us her raw thoughts on what it's like to go thru something like this.
Most of all, I appreciated the humor and wit that accompanied the chapters that made me chuckle all while learning about something I thought I knew of but actually knew very little about.
Thank you to the author Kimberly for her detailed account of her experience with her unexpected stroke, the insight into the medical adventures (ups and downs) and sharing with us her raw thoughts on what it's like to go thru something like this.
Most of all, I appreciated the humor and wit that accompanied the chapters that made me chuckle all while learning about something I thought I knew of but actually knew very little about.
January 18, 2020
This brave and creative writer kept me glued to the pages of her account of having a stroke. She is well informed, humble, and did I say funny? It may be in bad taste to say so, but the information is so much more palatable in the way Basso has chosen to deliver it. I read it in two days.
Read
December 2, 2020A hilarious first hand account about having a stroke. This short quick read had me thinking of my patients and cracking up the while time. Do yourself a favor and read this.
February 16, 2021
Scary Stuff Told with Humor, Grace, and Charm
First off, I must tell you that I personally know Kimberly Davis Basso. But, that only added with spurring me on further to finally get her book.
I bought it & wasn't going to start it until I had time to read the entire book if I chose to. But, I ended up starting late at night and had to force myself to put it down.
Then, I was going to wait again, but picked it up the next night & finished it!
Aside from being humorous and poignant, the author paints a vivid picture of the trials of an ER visit, and shows courage and grace to tell her tale of following your instincts and being self-aware enough to fight through a potentially disastrous event and come out stronger - all wrapped up with wit and charm.
She bravely fought through a barrage of medical personnel to ask questions and demand straight forward answers so she could understand all her options and get the care she deserved that was best for her, her family, and her future.
Her story is a testament to the necessity of preparing your children for emergencies as well as knowing your own body enough to know when something is definitely not right.
Thanks for the laughs, the honesty, and the new life lessons, as well as adding to my very limited zombie knowledge! I feel like I may be able to hold my own!
Now, onto Birth and Other Surprises!
First off, I must tell you that I personally know Kimberly Davis Basso. But, that only added with spurring me on further to finally get her book.
I bought it & wasn't going to start it until I had time to read the entire book if I chose to. But, I ended up starting late at night and had to force myself to put it down.
Then, I was going to wait again, but picked it up the next night & finished it!
Aside from being humorous and poignant, the author paints a vivid picture of the trials of an ER visit, and shows courage and grace to tell her tale of following your instincts and being self-aware enough to fight through a potentially disastrous event and come out stronger - all wrapped up with wit and charm.
She bravely fought through a barrage of medical personnel to ask questions and demand straight forward answers so she could understand all her options and get the care she deserved that was best for her, her family, and her future.
Her story is a testament to the necessity of preparing your children for emergencies as well as knowing your own body enough to know when something is definitely not right.
Thanks for the laughs, the honesty, and the new life lessons, as well as adding to my very limited zombie knowledge! I feel like I may be able to hold my own!
Now, onto Birth and Other Surprises!
January 20, 2021
Kimberly is phenomenal. Of course I can say this since I know her outside of this book as well, but she truly is. She put into words what everyone should read to understand that it isn’t just unhealthy elderly who can suffer from a stroke. Too many ignore symptoms until it’s potentially too late.
I can also objectively say that this book was well written and interesting. I truly enjoyed reading Kimberly’s story and recommend it to everyone!
I can also objectively say that this book was well written and interesting. I truly enjoyed reading Kimberly’s story and recommend it to everyone!
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