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Rusty’s Story
by Carol Gino
“Why do they keep locking me up?”
Rusty’s Story is Carol Gino’s account of the extraordinary life of the woman she undertook to help - the woman who ended up teaching her an invaluable lesson about the will to live, the strength of hope…
(click here to read chapter 1)
Rusty’s Story
Carol Gino
5* x 8*
336 pgs
aah-ha! Books Inc.
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 Rusty used to wonder if she would make it through the day, seeing danger in everyday living. Rusty has epilepsy.
She was twenty when Carol Gino met her and learned of her past ordeals: the stigma of mental illness, the drugs that took away her self-control, the treatments that only worsened her symptoms.
Carol and Rusty set out to prove that illness can be overcome, and that there is no substitute for love and care.
Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal
The true story of one young woman’s nightmare battle with epilepsy, told by the registered nurse with whom she lived. Gino first meets Barbara Russell (Rusty) when Rusty is 19 and they are both working at a nursing home. Four years earlier, Rusty was diagnosed as having severe epilepsy. Even with medication, the blackouts and seizures continued. After one violent seizure, she attempted suicide and was placed in a mental hospital, with brutal guards, violent patients, and lack of adequate care. Only Rusty’s strength and belief in herself helped her survive. When her attacks resumed, she left Gino’s house, but Gino continued to try to find the right physician and treatment. An epilogue in 1985 shows that Rusty made it through college and has become an independent, accepted member of society. Rusty’s story covers approximately 15 years, but the feeling is one of an immediate event. Gino’s involvement, intensity, and anger at the medical establishment moves readers into an empathy for Rusty and horror at the ignorance of some physicians and the world at large. Teens who enjoy the books of Torey Hayden, Eleanor Craig, or Mary MacCracken will also like this one. Diana Hirsch, PGCMLS, MdFrom Library Journal
While many advancements have been made in understanding and treating epilepsy, the disease is still surrounded by an aura of dread. Rusty was a teenager when she was stricken with epilepsy. Misdiagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, for years she suffered more from inappropriate medical treatment than from her condition. The reader is mesmerized as Gino (author of The Nurse’s Story , LJ 10/1/82) passionately relates Rusty’s plight. Despite repeated incarcerations in a frightful state mental institution and the toxic effects of drugs, she never lost her sense of humanity or her strong desire to help others. Gino’s deep distrust of the medical establishment, her fervent attachment to nursing, and her conviction that the patient knows best are themes that are interwoven into the emotional story of Rusty’s fight for a normal life. Carol R. Glatt, Helene Fuld Medical Center Lib., Trenton, N.J.
It’s an Old SageThe patient asks. “How will I know if I’m crazy.” And the doctor answers, “If you can ask that question you are probably OK.” But what if you ask and there is no one listening? Or what if your body is doing things that scare people and you have no control over it? That is exactly what happens in this true story, “Rusty’s Story”. There isn’t any fairy tale ending. This is real life. All there is is hope. I like that.
You think it couldn’t happen to you… but your wrong.
I found out about this book the summer of 2002 from the Epilepsy Foundation of America. It could so easily be my story and very nearly is…. Patient rights need to be protected but so often they are ignored. I was committed after refusing a feeding tube, but then denied medical care for my status episodes of seizures and migraines while in the Psych Ward. Nobody can ever explain what it is like to happen to you, but Carol Gino comes close. Everyone needs to read this story and then go to your lawyer and get a medical power of attorney assigned to someone you trust. Protect yourself anyway you can. This story may scare you, but in the long run you need to protect yourself. Know that you have rights. Also, know that there is always someone worse off than you, and that you must always have hope. I did, and I survived…
Excellent book about misunderstood or misdiagnosed epilepsy
Rusty has epilepsy, but neither her family nor her caretakers are willing to accept this diagnosis. This book chronicles the life of a young woman who was denied the chance to live normally even though her condition is easily treatable. Even Rusty herself had misconceptions about epilepsy and what could be done for her condition. A must read for patient advocates, medical ethicists, and people who want to know more about the history of epilepsy treatment. Reading level: College/Adult. Warnings: small amount of violence. Reader considers this book very *emotionally provoking*. Reader also considers this one of her favorite books. |
