A car accident devastates the life of a young priest, leaving him paraplegic—suddenly without the use of his legs. Through his account of this experience, the reader enters the entire world of problems faced by people with physical disabilities, and discovers the thousand hidden dimensions usually ignored: the slow psychological process that leads (not always) to acceptance of one's condition, all the practical difficulties to overcome, the strained relationships with medical and paramedical staff, and the even more fraught relationships with the world of the "able-bodied"—visitors, friends, family.
The voice is that of a man who speaks plainly, refuses to be treated as an "object of pity," and does not shy away from exposing both his own despair and the failings of others, unmasking without mercy the desperation, anger, and rudeness on one side, and the prejudice, ignorance, discomfort, and intrusiveness on the other. Starting from his personal experience, he reaches out to the wider world of disability, speaking for and amplifying the voices of those living in his same condition. He delivers his message "in the name of all of us." His message is one of protest, yes—but also of hope, hard-won, that ultimately leads him to admit he has achieved, despite everything and everyone (though with help from some), his own "happiness."
The book, essentially a memoir, is meant for both those living with similar challenges—who will recognize their own story and can contribute their own insights—and, perhaps even more so, for doctors, paramedics, volunteers, and friends who encounter people with physical disabilities and want to understand their struggles and avoid the clumsy missteps so often made in trying to connect. In this way it offers concrete guidance, and we recommend it highly. We need, after all, a clear and direct language like the one the author employs, even if it sometimes unsettles us.
- A.C., 1987