Nerywood reviewed The Night the Lights Went Out by Drew Magary
Review of 'The Night the Lights Went Out' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Wow, the author and those closest to him went through a ton. Once I started reading this book I almost didn't want to stop.
The author posted some of this story when the author was staff at Deadspin (with the same title). If you read that then some it will seem repeative but this book includes many details that aren't there.
The author is very lucky to be alive and realized that at some point. And his entire family is very lucky to be working for the company he did as they helped them (which is talked about in the book).
The book gives you a real view point of the american health care system as a patient which has insurance. The author didn't go into details with exact prices but does give some numbers.
There were times I was crying, laughing, or smiling when reading.
The book doesn't really …
Wow, the author and those closest to him went through a ton. Once I started reading this book I almost didn't want to stop.
The author posted some of this story when the author was staff at Deadspin (with the same title). If you read that then some it will seem repeative but this book includes many details that aren't there.
The author is very lucky to be alive and realized that at some point. And his entire family is very lucky to be working for the company he did as they helped them (which is talked about in the book).
The book gives you a real view point of the american health care system as a patient which has insurance. The author didn't go into details with exact prices but does give some numbers.
There were times I was crying, laughing, or smiling when reading.
The book doesn't really feel complete as the author is still experiencing some of the things described in the book.
There are some things said in the book that can make an impact on anyone who has been in the hospital, or really anyone who may need to go to the hospital at some point in the future.
"You went for a CT scan because Megan pushed for it. You know, they tried to turn you away and send you home. Megan’s insistence that they examine you closer is what kept you alive."
If you’re not taken to surgery within four hours (...), then you have no chance of living.
My operation commenced at 6:16 a.m., over six hours after I collapsed."
"They took your sedation down further, and the nurse came in and said, If you can hear me, like, put up two fingers. You flipped them off, and we started crying and laughing. The nurse was like, That’s the happiest I’ve ever been being flipped off in my life. That to me was when things shifted."
"I started despising New York. I felt like it represented the worst thing that had ever happened in my life. I remember going to Dunkin’ Donuts, getting some coffee, and then always looking around at people. They’re fine and they have no idea what’s going on in my head. It would make me angry that they got to go on with their normal lives."
"This is part of you now. Part of your experience. You’ve got the scars to show it. It’s what’s going to make you Drew going forward."
"I also violated discharge orders (...), despite the fact that Sonia’s college friends had bought us a very generous Seamless gift card to help with meals, which remains the single most useful get-well present that I have ever received."
"That’s the American healthcare system for you: The only shit that’s free is shit you’d NEVER want"
"I wanted to be seen as “normal,” but I also wanted everyone to accommodate my predicament without my having to make a fuss about it."
"It’s amazing how much of modern medicine is still dependent on your being able to accurately describe what you’re feeling to a doctor."