"Hernzebekana, written by Rebecca Lawton and Dawn Rosewitz, is a memoir about a multiple stroke survivor who has aphasia. It takes us through her life and struggles after surviving multiple strokes. When words don’t work, what are we left with? The memoir gives us some answers to those questions as well as the every day struggles that aphasic patients go through. The book is told from several different perspectives including the actual patient and her family. When words didn’t work, one word worked really well – Hernzebekana.

The book was really easy to read and enjoyable. I feel like I got to know Becki Lawton and her family throughout the book. I felt connected with her story and struggles as well as victories. By the end, I was invested in her and wanted to know more about how I could help. Being a physician assistant, I have seen, evaluated and treated many stroke survivors, but I never know their exact struggles with daily living. This book gave me a small glimpse into one survivor's story. The book did a great job explaining medical terms correctly and for the lay person. Near the end there is a photo gallery which shows pictures of Becki and her family as well as her neuroimaging which is very interesting and brings the whole story together. Most books don’t have pictures with them, so your mind makes up images of the people in them. It was a nice change to be able to see the people I was reading about. The book kept me reading and turning the pages.

This memoir keeps the reader engaged and gives a different perspective than most books I’ve read. Becki is truly an inspiration for everyone. This memoir should be read by all medical personnel who have any interaction with stroke survivors, so they have a better understanding of the foreign lands that these survivors are navigating. "