This is the story of an everyday-issue in human and medical life of modern industrial societies: The stroke hit Peter Härtling at night, resumed power over his arm and brought him to his knees. Only when the ambulance arrived, the pain was forced back. Subsequently, the author describes his journey through hospitals and rehabilitation centers. He closely observes the hospital life with his own fine sense of humor: the doctor´s arguments, their rigid instructions and his gentle rebellion against them. He knows about his body’s weakness but feels an invincible desire to continue living his life like he used to. Confronted with his own death, he is hit by memories while lying in bed – places and people of his past and present pass his mind. He gets the chance to deal with the trauma of his childhood – his father’s early death – which enables him to return to childhood-places and to his father´s grave. This is a moving, deeply personal and therefore exemplary book about coping with near death and the way back into life.
