A Stroke of Luck

The book I present to you has the working title of A Stroke of Luck or a Beginner's Guide to Being Hospitalised as a More-Mature Person and What You Can Reasonably Expect. I believe that it represents a piece of innovative non-fiction in that it is written with a positive yet realistic message about being a 'hospital virgin' at a more mature age. The project has been developed through my own experience of hospitalisation recently for treatment on a stroke. The concept is conceived via passages of digressions examples of humour coupled with sharp intakes of inter-active discussions based on the everyday activities of a hospital ward that the reader may not be aware of let alone expect. It is in this respect that the book is unique: whilst acknowledging that such institutions are full of medics and other professionals by definition there is also a whole spectrum of 'bit-part' players and 'events' too which can have either a detrimental or positive impact on the patient's recovery. Their role is examined through character development and astute observation of what actually occurs during a 'confinement': Victor Meldrew can and does 'believe it' he has too! The story itself is chronological: from pre-admission admission the period of the stay when time becomes meaningless and thoughts begin to wander to level of absurdity never truly thought possible to discharge (which in itself seems a 'nasty' word to use along with 'release' terms which come in for a wry comment or two!) and after-care. Primarily this book is written with the 'over fifties' market in mind specifically but I would envisage it being an informative read to anyone who is new to the 'hospital game' or is simply filled with trepidation at the possibility of it.