The Stroke That Touched My Heart

How Gratitude Transformed a 37 Year-Old massive Stroke Survivor

Non-Fiction - Self Help
194 Pages
Reviewed on 04/11/2019
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

On January 9th, 2017, Myrtle Russell's life was about to change forever when her 37-year-old daughter suffered a stroke. Follow a year in the life of Myrtle and her daughter, Mia, as they face this life-changing event head-on in The Stroke That Touched My Heart by Mia and Myrtle Russell. Throughout this brutally honest journal, we gain an insight into the true meaning of gratitude and placing seemingly bad situations in perspective. As Myrtle and Mia's relationship changes dynamics, their bond is strengthened and they both learn so much about themselves and each other, and also appreciation and faith in life. This book takes a look into a family that has suffered a huge, life-changing trauma, then shares the life lessons they learned along the way. How can faith and gratitude aid the healing process when you are faced with life's obstacles?

This book, as the title states, will touch your heart. The relationship between Mia and Myrtle is extremely moving. Myrtle is such a strong character and always looks for practical solutions to seemingly dreadful situations. I have made a note of several of her gratitude stories which I will use in my own life. My absolute favorites have to be to list one thing you hope for and to describe what you are doing to keep that hope from dying. Another was to place worries in a jar and leave them to a higher power. I thought the practical steps to overcome feelings of helplessness and grief were so powerful but very simple to execute.

There are many uses for this book. First, for anyone who has experienced a loved one suffering a stroke, this book will take you step by step through the whole process of dealing with your emotions of grief, whilst having to deal with the practicalities of hospital bills and social security. Second, this is a comprehensive guide to anyone who has experienced grief or trauma of any kind. It will shine a ray of sunshine onto problems and give you the tools to see them with clarity and gratitude. Third, the book can be used as little nuggets of wonderment to refer to when life seems to get in the way of progress. By referring to the gratitude stories, you will always find joy in your darkest hour. I believe everyone should have a Myrtle Russell in their lives, but if you do not, then having this book is the next best thing.

K.C. Finn

The Stroke That Touched My Heart is a powerful work of inspiring non-fiction co-authored by Mia and Myrtle Russell, and self-described as the story of “How Gratitude Transformed a 37-Year-Old Massive Stroke Survivor”. In this harrowing true-life account, we hear the story of Mia Russell through a year of survival and recovery following a very serious and terribly debilitating stroke. The practice of gratitude becomes a central feature in the lives of Mia and her mother Myrtle, who had previously studied the benefits of journaling and practicing gratitude already. As Myrtle takes you through her and Mia’s experiences, there are lessons to be learned about being thankful, even in some of the worst times that a person can live through.

This is a truly inspiring tale of incredible hardship, but also in the power of belief and how you can cope with virtually anything so long as you train your brain to have the right perspective on it. Authors Mia and Myrtle Russell recount the tale through Myrtle’s honest and well-constructed narrative, describing everything from the moment the stroke happened, through more than fifty days in the hospital and then on into rehabilitation and therapy for Mia’s recovery. Readers who have illnesses and unwell family members, in particular, will find a lot of solace in the lessons that the Russells’ life experience teaches, and a combination of faith, prayer and learning the practice of gratitude shows just how rewarding life can still be. The Stroke That Touched My Heart gives hope to its readers and is a highly recommended read.

Mamta Madhavan

The Stroke That Touched My Heart: How Gratitude Transformed a 37-Year-Old Massive Stroke Survivor by Mia and Myrtle Russell is a beautiful and insightful book that chronicles the lessons and blessings learned by the authors while going through the most difficult phase in their lives, with Mia suffering a massive stroke that landed her in the hospital for fifty-two days. Their story is a blessing to all readers who will learn how to unlock the hidden gifts of practicing gratitude, especially if they have experienced a life-changing event, a loss, a trauma, a medical diagnosis, or a personal crisis. The book will teach readers how to practice gratitude and appreciate what is already there, and it has been proven by science that gratitude increases healing.

This book aesthetically combines spirituality with medicine, and I liked how the authors pull readers into their journey by adding Gratitude Lessons and Your Gratitude Story, which are very helpful when it comes to self-realization, self-discovery, and healing. The book is not just about Mia’s stroke and her journey to recovery; it is also about being grateful to the Universe for all there is and appreciating the gifts everyone has on a daily basis. The approach to a health topic has been well tackled and it teaches readers valuable lessons on life and living in a positive way. Reading this book is good for readers to reflect on their lives, and I think it will be nice to have a worry jar to put one's worries in and deal with these by being in tandem with the Universe. As the authors rightly put it:
'The more grateful you are, the more reasons you will have to be grateful.’ Let us start practicing gratitude for all that we have from this very moment.

Lakenya Turner

A must read!! Awesome story that will give you the strength to push on no matter what comes your way.