In September 1955, six-year-old Mark O'Brien moved his arms and legs for the last time. He came out of a 30-day coma to find himself in an iron lung, the machine in which he would live for much of the rest of his life. This volume is O'Brien's account of his struggles to lead an independent life despite a lifelong disability. He describes growing up without the use of his limbs, his adolescence struggling with physical rehabilitation and suffering the bureaucracy of hospitals and institutions, and his adult life as an independent student and writer. Despite his weak physical state, O'Brien earned a graduate degree, explored his sexuality, fell in love, published poetry and worked as a journalist.
- ISBN10 1568362161
- ISBN13 9781568362168
- Publish Date 1 May 1998
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 12 November 2013
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Kodansha
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 288
- Language English