Rescuing Jeffrey

by Richard Galli

In 1998, at a Fourth of July pool party in Rhode Island, teenager Jeffrey Galli dove in, struck his head, and nearly drowned. Although his father, Richard, saved him, Jeffrey was paralyzed with a devastating spinal cord injury. In this book, Richard Galli offers a compelling, disarmingly honest account of the decisions and experiences confronted by all such individuals who suddenly find themselves wholly dependant on others to survive—and of the realities that must be likewise faced by their families.

A lawyer and former journalist, Galli writes with much intelligence and stark emotional intensity of life as it is really lived by quadriplegics and those who care for them. An unforgettable story about tragedy, love, and the choices we make at the brink of survival, Rescuing Jeffrey is "gut-wrenchingly candid," as Publishers Weekly observed, and "likely to arouse controversy and sharply divided reactions . . . Yet this eloquent story of heartbreak and hope is ultimately life affirming." The book will be must-reading for all students of counseling, rehabilitation, and related disciplines.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Medical, Disability

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself getting angry with the father in this story, but as I continued to read the book, I realized that if I were in the same situation I may experience some of the same thoughts and feelings. This book is horribly realistic and, for me, as a physical therapist, one of those things you never want to think about a family having to deal with. Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this type of situation every day, and this book makes you put yourself on the "other" side of the story. It isn't the best writing I've ever read, but is intended to be a journal of one father's thoughts as he learns and adjusts to the sudden paralysis of his son. It is a good read, and I finished it very quickly.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hard for me to get interested in at first but it quickly grabbed me after a little while. The story of a father who "saved" his teenage son from drowning at the exact moment when the son was turning his life around. He ended up being paralyzed from the neck down leaving the parents to decide if Jeffrey would indeed want to live life in such a state. It's kind of hard to read just because the story itself is so sad. The writing is average but we have to remember this isn't a well known author. The author is a father who made his living as a lawyer before this happened and taking that into account, the writing is more than enough to keep me reading.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know. Sad story for sure, but not terribly compelling reading and not in any way compelling writing. (One sometimes equals the other, starting with the writing.) Some books are written for certain target groups, and this is the self-help for people who have rescued other people they loved but maybe they shouldn't have and now they have to live with it. Not that Jeffrey didn't deserve it. It's a tragedy, but mostly I'd recommend this to people in aforementioned situation.

[Malia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just an OK read. It's been awhile since I've read it but I remember thinking it was just OK.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again I was surprised by how much I liked this book. The win goes entirely to the clear writing and amazing logic and rhetoric of the author. It was refreshing to read something so well-thought-out.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Rhode Island. 198 pp. Incredibly moving and heartwarming. Fascinating to read this well-constructed, cogent memoir about the most painful time in this father's life.

Found online at https://archive.org/details/rescuingj...

Interesting article: https://www.krabarchive.com/ralphmag/...

"I had brought my son back to life, and now I had to find a way to kill him."

Rescuing Jeffrey by Richard Galli

[S.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I experienced a range of feelings while reading this book. At the point when Jeffrey's parents contemplate ending his life, I felt shock and anger. I am glad I didn't quit reading. I tried to imagine myself in Richard and Toby's shoes and found it an agonizing decision to face. In the end, I must applaud the thorough and methodical manner the Galli's used. I don't believe I would have had the courage to even consider letting go of my son.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a truly sad story about life and death as seen thru a father's eyes. I have yet to look up how the young man in the book is doing today, but overall this was an interesting book, filled with many decisions to make and provoked you to think if this event happened to you, how would you react. My thought still remain with me that the father totally was/is an atheist, and firmly believed that. Being a christian, I struggled with his point of view thru the entire story. Glad I'm finished.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite 'recovery from illness' books ever! Jeffrey and his Dad take you a journey that NO ONE should ever have to live thru....I read this book every few years just remind myself how precious life is...this book is very much like "Death Be Not Proud" but takes place locally and is present day...Highly recommend!

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy dives into pool. Boy hits head. Boy breaks neck and is rushed to the hospital. Mother and father contemplate removing son from life-saving machines, because what kind of life will son have now?
A really interesting look at paralysis from a parent's perspective. It was pretty gutsy for the author to admit to having these thoughts. And then to write a book about it.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes the experience of a family whose son gets a spinal cord injury and the struggles that they dealt with through the initial care and future. I liked it because I think that it offes a view (let him go as he wants or fight through and keep on living) that isn't typically shared outside of families that have to deal with this type of tragedy.

[Kelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a 17 year old boy who jumps into a pool and fractures his neck. He is instantly paralyzed and drowns, when his father resuscitates him. The book is told by the father and deals with lots of different issues, including euthanasia. It made me think about lots of different issues, which I liked.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read for me. I really felt for this family and for what they were dealing with. I think that they were a strong family that made their way through this situation and found them to be very loving and supportive parents and also very good friends.

[Kleio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have never seen such pure honesty in a book before. I am in awed and totally salute the writer/father for being so brave. Not a hint of self-filtration. Totally felt his pain and dilemma. Hope Jeffrey is now happy and healthy.

[sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling memoir written by a dad who faces the decision whether to pull his son from life support. The catch: his son is conscious.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad, but touching

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected. I didn't like his reference to killing his son. Makes everyone else who makes that decision sound like a murderer and they are not.

[Jessie Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very honest account of a tragic event.

[Lynne Clinkert · Rating 3 out of 5]

sad, disturbing, offensive, honest, and hopeful

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A father describes his thoughts and emotions in the first ten days after any parent's almost-worst nightmare (his 17-yr-old son's complete and permanent paralysis).

[Katherine Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

way too depressing