Book Review: Stroke of the Genius by Kathy Zant

Reviewed by Amy Brozio-Andrews

A compelling account of strength and resilience following a medical crisis

Things are going pretty well for Mark Ryan and Kathy Zant, except for some apparent food poisoning. But when that medical crisis actually turns out to be a life-changing stroke for Mark, the Zants’ world turns upside down.

Kathy has two options: surrender to the hopeless future predicted by medical professionals and consider abandoning her husband in a nursing home, or seize every opportunity to bring him home. Kathy chooses to rebuild a life at home with Mark that continues to honor their commitment to each other.

In Stroke of the Genius—a spiritual memoir—Kathy shares her journey to rock bottom and back again in the hope of inspiring other caregivers.

Mark had a strong career as a world-renowned neurolinguistic programming (NLP) leader and hypnotist before his stroke. Always eager to help people become their greatest selves, he and Kathy are a great match from the moment they meet. As their family grows, Kathy is a strong supporter of Mark and his work.

But once the stroke upends everything familiar to them, Kathy’s willingness to take the lead ensures her husband has the medical care he needs, from proper nutrition to physical therapy. As Kathy navigates these obstacles, she has to find within herself the resources to keep going while also raising their teenage daughter and earning a living.

Through Kathy’s sharing of her hopes, relating of her fears, and embracing of her new thought patterns, which help release habits that have previously held her back, she offers a way forward to others who are facing challenging circumstances.

Kathy’s voice is engaging and her writing is smooth. It’s easy to be carried along by her story and identify with her experiences, such as the realization that their lives have been irrevocably changed when Mark’s condition takes a turn for the worse in the hospital: “And I was left, sinking to the linoleum, the cold seeping through my jeans like it was claiming me, too.”

Throughout the book, Kathy refuses to pull any punches—whether with the medical establishment or with herself. Her earnest recounting of her husband’s devastating stroke, the tsunami of caregiving she is thrust into, and her steadfast dedication to her marriage, her family, and herself is stirring but soothing. It’s like striking up a conversation with someone at the local coffee shop who really gets it.

By turns a medical drama, a family saga, and a midlife coming-of-age story, Kathy’s writing style keeps the pages turning swiftly. She lays bare her struggles with being a primary caregiver who’s learning on the job, raising a teenager, and taking care of herself, mentally, physically, and professionally.

Her tone is honest and real, whether it’s acknowledging the hard work that being her husband’s advocate demands or encouraging the reader to step into their personal power: “Wherever you’re standing, here’s what I’d tell you: the worst thing isn’t the end. It’s the beginning.”

Through it all, Kathy’s touchstone is her love for her husband and her belief that what makes him special cannot be lost to a stroke. Her story will inspire others to nurture their resilience in the face of similar hardship with the hope of standing stronger for both themselves and their loved ones.

Thank you for reading Amy Brozio-Andrews’s book review of Stroke of the Genius by Kathy Zant! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Book Review: Stroke of the Genius by Kathy Zant appeared first on Independent Book Review.