Seven Signs of Life: Stories from an Intensive Care Doctor (Paperback)

A brilliant, compelling account of what it is like to spend your days caring for patients "on the fringe of existence" ... A hugely life-affirming book. In between the many grim situations encountered on a daily basis, Abbey shows us moments of both joy and deep emotional connection -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *
Heartfelt, honest, illuminating and wise - a wonderful book that I would urge everyone to read -- Julia Samuel, author of Grief Works
A powerful glimpse into the high stakes of intensive care ...Above all this book is insightful about the grey areas where a doctor must go ... Some readers may be wearying of doctor memoirs. This one ... has a freshness and a sincerity that moved me. She is a gifted writer ... honest, compassionate, sensitive... [and] the doctor we would crave in our greatest need -- Melanie Reid * The Times *
Abbey's book stands out among the current crop of doctor-penned memoirs for its thoughtful, compassionate reflections on life in Intensive Care. Abbey presents the usual case studies with an unusual depth of feeling and evident love for those in her care. She may be in the earlier stages of her career, but the author writes with a maturity and vocational fervour well beyond her years. An unsung classic of the genre
A thoughtful and necessary book about a world all of us might inhabit at some point in our lives -- Rosita Boland * Irish Times *