Me Again-Keith Cronin

Me Again
Keith Cronin
Five Star, Sep 7 2011, $25.95
ISBN: 9781432825034

When Jonathan Hooper was twenty-eight years old, he suffered a debilitating stroke while in Chicago. His doctors expected him to die, but instead he remained in a coma for six years in a unit in St. Louis. To the joy and annoyance of his parents, girlfriend Victoria and others who moved on, Jonathan awakens but his memory is gone as he fails to recognize anyone. He does not recognize any of those visiting him at the hospital where he must remain until his wasted body recovers.

Rebecca Chase was a trophy wife until she suffered a debilitating stroke. Her personality changed from spirited to reticent. Whereas she was discrete now she says what she thinks to her husband Big Bob’s embarrassment and chagrin.

At the long term facility, the recovering young stroke victims Jonathan and Rebecca feel isolated from their previous respective lives. However, each shares in common a basic human need for friendship, which they find with one another leading to much more between them.

Me Again is an intriguing second chance at life drama starring two relatively young stroke victims and their impact on those in their inner circle who are not nasty people just confused as to what to do. Besides a strong cast and a reminder that stroke is the third leading cause of death that can attack the young, Keith Cronin avoids preaching while providing an uplifting tale made more so by his donating 25% of what he makes to the American Stroke Association.

Harriet Klausner