Book Review: Lucky - Learning To Live Again by Louise Thompson

 Hello,

I hope you're well and enjoying this very lovely June. 

Today I wanted to write about a book that is by far the best one I've read so far this year, and that is Lucky, by Louise Thompson. 

I have known of Louise since I was about fourteen years old, when Made In Chelsea first hit our screens and I loved the drama and craziness of the reality show. I didn't know much about her life, but I had recently seen interviews where she discussed having an extremely traumatic birth, with multiple life saving operations and how this resulted in severe PTSD. My Mum was driving me to a hosptial appointment and had "Lucky" playing via audio book and I was hooked. I got home and brought the audio book straight away, finishing it in the next three days. 

It is so honest, so raw, so necessary (as someone who was born at 29 weeks due to complications with my Mum's pregnancy, that meant she was high risk and stayed in the hosptial for 3 months post birth), so devastating, so hopeful and so profound. 

Louise does not sugar coat her frankly horrendous experiences and does not make any apologies for doing so. She speaks repeatedly of the importance of truth to tell your story and the need to use it to help others. She speaks of "before" and "after" her birth and the need for better physical and mental health support for mothers', especially when exposed to traumatic deliveries. She speaks of missed opportunities, not being listened to, as a fit, young, first time mother, about her concerns. She speaks of the debilitating effects of crippling anxiety, depression and primarily, PTSD. She speaks of gratitude to the people who saved her life, whilst feeling understandable anger that some of what happened to her may have been prevented with better support. She speaks of the importance of love, the good fortune of a good support network and financial stability that helped to save her life and how this is not lost on her. 

Louise speaks so eloquently of a time that changed her life, her outlook and the person she is, and that is nothing short of miraculous as it is just two years post-trauma when she is writing. 

I would say for anyone with medical or birth trauma this is a very triggering read. Medical procedures are laid bare and repeated missed opportunities prevail, where Louise isn't listened to, when she needs to be the most. Anyone that has experience of severe PTSD, anxiety and depression will probably relate heavily to her thoughts and feelings but again this could potentially be triggering also, so do bare this in mind. 

I think, with those trigger warnings mentioned, this book is exeptional and Louise Thompson is amazing. Her experiences of PTSD will stick with me and resonate with me forever.  Wishing her all the best with her recovery.