‘I’m really sorry to say, the reason we are having to operate on you today is because you have something called Cauda Equina Syndrome. Have you ever heard of it?’ Naturally I hadn’t, she continued. ‘Cauda Equina Syndrome is an extremely rare disorder, your L5 disk is compressing on the spinal nerve roots at the tail of your spine, hence the name Cauda Equina, it’s latin for horses tail. If this goes un-operated for more than forty-eight hours you are likely to have permanent incontinence and permanent paralysis of your lower extremities. As you mentioned, this started on Wednesday evening so we really need to get you into theatre before midnight tonight to have any chance of salvaging your nerves. Also, full disclosure, we have a woman in surgery right now with a difficult labour...’
Meet Pip Parker, she will have you laughing and crying, in parts you may even wince through her pain but above all, you will be uplifted by a young woman who displays a life must go on attitude as she laughs in the face of adversity while she dreams of climbing a mountain.
Industry Reviews
"In the last four months, I have learnt the word Cauda Equina. Daily living in trepidation that its 'completion' will not be the culmination of my herniation hence why this book resonates with me so much and has given me Chutzpah to fight for the right treatment whilst at the beginning of my journey!
Pip, thank you ever so for sharing your journey. I can only imagine your pain, but your book helped me to see that resilience and your brilliant sense of humour, were key.
I hope a copy of your book can be placed in hospitals throughout the UK and become part of Orthopaedic/Neurosurgeon/GP's libraries to understand how 'crucial' their first diagnosis is.
I'll start in W. Sussex.
I look forward to vicariously trekking up Kilimanjaro."
"I couldn't put it down! An excellent glimpse into the window of Pips life and how much suffering people go through, through no fault of their own. You really get behind the character a root for her all the way. We all have mountains to climb, some far more difficult than others."
"This book manages to completely cover all the many details of being diagnosed with CES and learning to live again anyway while telling a compelling human story about love and loss. I'm not sure I'll be able to read fiction again knowing there are such powerful truths to discover."