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Janet R. Douglas, a former occupational therapist, suffered a massive stroke and spent the next decade overcoming physical and mental challenges to emerge as a different, more authentic version of herself. Join us as she shares her memoir, A Wonderful Stroke of Luck: From Occupational Therapist to Patient and Beyond.
About the Book
Janet R. Douglas, a former occupational therapist, suffered a massive stroke and spent the next decade overcoming physical and mental challenges to emerge as a different, more authentic version of herself. This inspired her to write her memoir, A Wonderful Stroke of Luck: From Occupational Therapist to Patient and Beyond.
Douglas addresses the effects of brain damage on personal identity and relationships, the power of faith and of the human spirit to overcome adversity and to accept that while full recovery may be beyond reach, life can still be full and rewarding. She also discusses the challenges of returning to her high-powered corporate position and navigating physical and psychological obstacles at home, work and in the community with humor and deep insight.
“When the idea of writing a book was first raised, I could neither read nor write normally,” said Douglas. “It took almost a decade of therapy to be strong enough physically and mentally to take on the challenge.”
“A Wonderful Stroke of Luck” presents the unique perspective of both therapist and patient as Douglas discusses the impact of a stroke, how it makes even the simplest tasks difficult, and how the noticeable disabilities it causes are only part of the struggle.
About the Author
Janet R. Douglas, an occupational therapist, specialized in the treatment of hand injuries at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London and worked with the World Health Organization before moving to the US. She was director of occupational therapy education at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago before earning a master’s degree in public health. Douglas then joined the world’s largest human resources and risk management consulting firm where she served as a Managing Director and Global Practice Leader. In semi-retirement, she works in refugee resettlement.
