Let’s get one thing straight right off the kibble, shall we? spake I, Kimber the Magnificent. Today’s book is From the Sidelines to the Finish Line by Emily Falcon. It’s a memoir about Emily’s lifelong journey with a congenital cardiac condition. 

Now, From the Sidelines to the Finish Line is a good book. You really oughtta read it. You know this is so cuz I’m telling ya it is. Got that, Cupcake? Cuz I wanna make another thing clear right off the football: There are some real stand-outs in this memoir-ish read. They have fur and four feet, if ya get my drift. And no, Toots, I’m not talking felines here. I’m talking Phoebe the therapy dog. Dual doggies Maxi and Blueberry. And Josie, chihuahua/Jack Russell terrier mix with the heart of a lion.

Speaking of hearts, that’s what this book is about. In more ways than one. Yeppers, it’s a deep dive into the emotional, social, familial and physical effects of a long-term heart condition. But it’s also about much more. I’ll let Mom fill you in. Soon as I talk her into stepping away from the kale. Just kidding. Take it away, Mom!

The Basics

In 1982, at seven weeks old, Emily had a heart attack that destroyed forty percent of the left side of her heart. This was her entry into a world of multiple cardiac procedures, surgeries, and hospitalizations, and a later diagnosis of glaucoma. Balancing these serious conditions defined her life.

In 2017, after a lifetime of feeling that nothing could ever change, Falcon had a second open-heart surgery, which allowed her to participate in a 5K race a mere eight months later. She was no longer stuck on the sidelines. Drawing from her extensive life experiences, Falcon recounts how she found a way to surmount obstacles that people who live with incurable medical conditions and their supporters might face.

Falcon’s memoir is a story of survival and how her physical situation shaped and limited her. Falcon describes how she has remained courageous and pragmatic in her mission to stay alive. She encourages her readers to advocate for themselves, believe in their abilities, never be afraid to test their boundaries, and feel motivated to make changes in their lives. The book is 310 pages including photos.

That being said, be aware that there’s a lot of hospital time in this book. Ditto surgeries. Procedures. Tests. Meds. Treatments. Doctor, nurses, rehab, etc. 

Been There, Done That

But it’s also about fat-headed docs who make you sit in their waiting room until the 12th of Never (Been there, done that). Then they make you feel like they’re doing you a favor to see you, peasant. (Been there, done that.) How insurance companies too often dictate “patient care” more than docs do (Been there, done that too). The importance of advocating for yourself as patient. (Been there,… Well. You know.) And glaucoma, The Silent Thief of Sight (Been there, etc….) And yep, them thar eye drops really do sting. Ack! There’s also a certain episode of Grey’s Anatomy…

“Don’t Wast a Second”

But if meds and doctors and hospitals and the like are all you get out of this book, then ya kinda missed it. Cuz perhaps more than anything else, this book is about Emily’s motto: “Don’t waste a second.”

“Heart”

Cuz in this book, heart isn’t just something physical. That muscle beating in your chest. It’s about “heart” as in courage. Compassion. Perseverance. Not giving up. Love. Loyalty. Going the extra mile. And more miles. Kinda like a sweet, furry face we all know and love. (Don’t tell Kimmi I said that, okay? I’ll never hear the end of it.)

We won’t be rating this book. It’s not that kind of a book. But I’d listen to The Kimster ‘fize you. Got that, Buttercup?