A Cry In the Dark: A Stroke Survivor’s Story of Hope and Recovery

A Cry in the Dark by Terence Ang
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A stroke survivor story of Hope and Recovery

"I was so afraid of my gibberish, so afraid of the sounds I was making. Humiliation hit me like ton of bricks. I crumbled"

Terence Ang's A Cry in the Dark is an emotional story that held me captive until I finish indulging my emotions in it. I've been a huge fan of memoirs, but this one caught me exceptionally. I love how the book started like a conversation between a child and a storyteller, coupled with the eventual introduction of the title "A Cry in the Dark". The book has some hilarious features, and some words are comical, yet, sad.

A Cry in the Dark follows up on the author's experience falling down in a toilet and how he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. I love the author's writing style, and his description of his condition, I found his words piercing, and achingly beautiful in a way that you begin to imagine and feel emotional about what it is like to live with a stroke. It arouses empathy, it is moving and sad. He wrote of how he restrained from people, and how he dreaded people coming to sympathize with him. One can feel his anguish from the tone of his writing, his regret, his pains, and his familiarity with the use of a wheelchair.

Terence's initial words of hopelessness leave me uncomfortable, words like "I felt very small and insignificant as if I had been robbed of my manhood" among many others, are quite instilling. Reading through his perception of "bath time" and how he felt having a total stranger staring at his nakedness made me remember some times in the past when my father was hospitalized, and how I would help him get to the bathroom in a wheelchair, bath him, wore his clothes, and take him back to his bed. How he was bedridden and does things in one spot. I can imagine what it felt like to be in such a horrible situation, as then, I often cry at the sight of my father. It was a terrible situation and reading Terence's story brought back those memories.

The book goes on to expound on Terence's speech recovery and his visits to the doctors. From reading his story, I felt there is a bit of inspiration inscribed in it, and how Terence could develop a positive perception of his condition was an admirable trait that I think the majority in his shoes need to possess. I love the game of Snakes & Ladder part, among many other amazing chapters.

A Cry in the Dark is a great read. It's sad, arousing, despondent, hopeful, and inspiring. There is something bond in it that readers can learn from, get to understand the mysteries and pain of people living with stroke, and perhaps gain new insight on how to address the world and sick ones around them. I would love to recommend A Cry in the Dark to lovers of memoirs, and literature at large.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved how the author was telling the story to a child. It gave the entire book a sense of learning. That's exactly what it was too. Many of us know someone who has had a stroke. This story was on a different level totally.

The author writes his real account of how a stroke effected his life. From the very beginning to a day to day living with his disability. The struggles, the frustrations, the steadfastness of not giving up hope, and to the triumphs whether big or small. The reader gets a first hand account.

The novel also gives us a look into the health care workers who help the people facing there disabilities. You cant mention health care workers without mentioning the tools and mechanism that help as well. The author brought both of these up and I found that to be informative and excellent.

I highly recommend this novel to everyone. It was an excellent and captivating story!!! These things can happen everyday to all walks of life. This wonderful writing gives us all a very detailed look into the lives of those with disabilities and how things can also come full circle.

Wow. “A Cry In The Dark” is a powerfully personal story about the author’s stroke, set amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. The struggles, the triumphs, and all the feelings are splayed across the page in all their rawness, inked both in the words and the illustrations carried throughout.
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“A Cry In The Dark” is the author’s retelling of their stroke and the aftermath of recovery, appointments, and emotions. Set amongst a conversation with a child, at a playground, the reader is immersed in Terence Ang’s pain and recovery, every so often coming up for air as the child would chime in, reminding us this story has a happy ending. Emotionally breaking at times as the author describes the burden they felt they were placing on their family, the struggles of returning to work, the drive and determination to walk once again despite a right side that just wanted to stay asleep. The doctors, therapists, and trainers are all included in the author’s plight to return to life as it was before his stroke. Each pushed and motivated Ang. Tying the whole story together are Ang’s talented illustrations, penned in black and yellow, bringing an added depth to the story.

Reminding readers that life is fragile and not to be taken for granted, Ang reflects on his experiences and resilience. This phenomenal read keeps readers engaged through personal illustrations and engrossing storytelling.

Amazom 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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This novel is moving and yet inspiring at the same time. The author gives his real account of having a stroke at the age of fifty-five and narrates what it's like to suddenly live with disability. He describes how the fear that grows surrounding such an event is all engulfing alone in itself. The writing is polished and narration is extremely well done. Though this book is a sad one but yet it gives hope to many.

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I was honored to receive a copy of Terence's book from him. A Cry In The Dark, is a profound true story told by the author. The man who lived it, Terrence Ang. A story of living with a disability and how a person can overcome so much when they keep a positive mindset and remain determined.

The perspective of how Terence tells the story is amazing. It's told as if he's teaching a young child to understand the setbacks and possible comebacks of having a disability. Terence had a stroke which left him with challenges that some have never overcome. However, little by little he set goals to get back what the stroke took from him.

One can not expound on the tragedy of a serious medical condition such as a stroke without touching on the obstacles and dealing with healthcare workers on the road to recovery. The author did a great job of expressing this. Step by step until he made a remarkable recovery that many would have not believed possible. From being confined to a bed to being able to walk again.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Terence tells his story and gives hope to so many with disabilities, as well as those without. It is a beautiful story of courage and prosperity. All of us could possibly face challenges of the same nature or close to it and the positivity of his story echoes out to the reader. The message of being able to get through the hard battles in life.