Seven Signs of Life: Unforgettable Stories from an Intensive Care Doctor

This book is very powerful, short examples and a quick read. This is a handbook , essential for our very existence about what we value as human life.Think of the last place you ever have to spend the night. Think of why you would ever have to be there.Aoife Abby unlocks your mind to just seven key emotions we all experience daily. She reminds us to dissect each emotion to all the ramifications in each one. Questions, answers, respect for the truth of human life, no matter at what age:Can you be dead and alive at the same time?What does distraction involve?What are the consequences of distraction?Can you dissect the meaning of fear or anger?It is very powerful, short examples and a quick read you'll never forget.

I was probably more than half way through the book before I realized the narrator was a woman! That kind of surprised and pleased me as it meant the author was able to be completely objective. There were no laments about how hard it is to work with men and no whining about unfair treatment. Dr. Abbey obviously worked hard to get where she is and she appears to be an incredibly good doctor.My religious beliefs teach me that death is not actually the end of life and I'm confident I will spend eternity with Jesus, but on a practical level death is scary. Most of us pray we are taken while we are asleep, before we lapse into some horrible, degrading sickness. Working in an intensive care unit where death happens so often has to be extremely difficult. How much I appreciate those people who dedicate themselves to making it easier for us to pass from one life to the next.We definitely want our doctors to be stronger, more confident, and calmer than we are in a crisis situation; we also want them to see us as individuals! I felt like she could do both: care deeply and act wisely. It's for sure if I was in intensive care I would want a doctor like Aoife Abbey. I'm glad I met her through this book.

My Mom died three weeks ago today and iPad this hoping it helped me process my grief. I felt much empathy for the doctor. How hard it must be for them. I never thought of them. I cried thru out the book

A thoughtful glimpse into the mind and HEART of an amazing ICU doc. Thanks to all who accepted this daunting challenge every time they go to work.

Dr. Abbey allows the reader into her cognition as she deals with life and death realistically. She honestly chronicles what doctors see and feel as they "try to help."

This is a book that will make the reader consider life and death as well as prejudices, hopes, and fears.

Accounts of a doctor's experiences of life and death and how she copes with everything that happens to patients in a hospital. These stories of their experiences teach us what doctors encounter and how they deal with it.

I wasn't sure quite what to expect from this book - I picked it up because in some ways I thought it would resemble my memoir, only told from the doctor's perspective. It wasn't that exactly - or rather, it was that and more. The stories of this doctor, working in the intensive care department of a British hospital are by turns heart-wrenching and inspiring. How this doctor helps patients facing death could have been depressing, but wasn't. If the British aren't grateful for the National health service after reading this - they should be. This was written before COVID, and I can only imagine that the situation has become almost intolerable, and yet people like Dr. Abbey keep working, all around the world.

Interesting insight into the working life of an intensive care doctor. Well written realism from a caring and thoughtful individual.

You will enjoy this if you are interested in true medical situations, patients and their stories. I found it very direct especially on the emotional toll of being a doctor in the ICU.

Boring -- I prefer narrative over reflection -- a bit too philosophical.

Very good insight into intensive care units. I have experience of IT wards and they are most definitely not the place you want to be with a close relative. However, my admiration goes out to all the staff who have to deal with such trauma on a daily basis.

This book describes how it feels to be an Intensive-Care Doctor dealing with serious hospital situations: striving to do 'the right thing', explaining difficult decisions to families, such as when it's time to switch to helping the patient die comfortably.It's about how a doctor feels experiencing the full range of powerful emotions day in, day out, and the toll it may be taking long term.It's the best medical memoir I've read.