A. Mateja "Miracle in Medicine. Stories of patients"

Title: Miracles in Medicine: Patient Stories. Author: Anna Mateja. Year of publication: 2012. Description: The eleven stories in this book are about people who won the fight for their lives. At first glance, one might think this is a topic that has already been covered extensively in various reports, books, and films. A miracle—an event with no credible explanation, whose causes are often sought in supernatural forces—makes it a media-friendly commodity. However, the stories presented by the author, devoid of sensationalism and journalistic glitz, describe the miracle from the perspective of those who experienced it—for whom life itself is the miracle, not the circumstances in which the healing occurred. These people, although they differ in terms of education, financial status, age, and the way they explain their recovery, emphasize one thing—facing a life-threatening situation, they underwent a catharsis, reevaluated their lives up to that point, and realized that everything they had strived for and achieved up to that point is meaningless, because tomorrow they may not be able to enjoy any of it at all. It should be noted, however, that the fact that they won the battle for their lives does not mean at all that they won the battle against the disease, and many of them are still acutely aware of the struggle; yet what they experienced opened their eyes and redirected their life reflections and efforts in a completely different direction. Ultimately, this has made them more self-aware and satisfied with themselves and their lives, and consequently happier. So, should we envy them, or perhaps thank them that we have never had to face what they went through? Some might think this is absurd, but is it really? This is one of many reflections that will surely come to mind after reading this book.