"View From The Bedpan"

VIEW from the BEDPAN is a lively and spirited true story about a 43-year old woman, Beverley June Richmond, who two years after open-heart surgery is seriously injured when she is run over by a truck ~ her body going one way, her black pumps the other. In addition to life-threatening physical injuries, her mind and spirit are tested by three years of rehabilitation and more surgery, and by five years of adjusting to her new life with brain injury. Although raw emotions often surface, overall she is able to keep an inquisitive, optimistic outlook and a sense of humour. "The only way to survive such an ordeal is to see the humour in it, no matter how hard it is to find," writes Richmond. This is her story: how she survives her accident and recovery, what she sees and experiences in the hospital, and what she learns about herself and others. Included are many helpful tips, healing strategies, and insights.

Some readers will compare their own experiences as well as relate to these events and messages -motivational, yet comical at times -- as they unfold. Others will learm about the consequences of brain injury and hospitalization from a patient's perspective, especially the many challenges and victories of one survivor. View from the Bedpan was a nominee for the Stephen Leacock Award for using humour to help tell a difficult story, and is now in second printing. You can order the book by visiting the following website:

                                                  http://www.biaqd.ca/bedpan.htm

About the Author... 

Beverley Richmond was born and raised in Toronto. There she worked in administration, sales, publishing, and promotion. She moved to the Quinte area in 1990 and began work at the Intelligencer where she stayed until a near-fatal accident in December 1994 forced her into retirement. Beverley has been involved in corporate communications and writing in varying degrees throughout her career, including as an editor of association and employee newsletters, an advertising copywriter, and a columnist for two Metroland newspapers. She now enjoys writing as a hobby. She has had articles published and several short stories appearing in the Canadian Authors Association Wordscape anthologies. View from the Bedpan is her first book. It was a nominee for the 2003 Leacock award for humour and is now in second printing.

Beverley has raised awareness of brain injury through the media promotion of her book. She has also performed readings and spoken at libraries, bookstores, and retirement homes, and to various groups including brain injury associations, writers groups, health associations, hospital and church auxiliaries, service clubs, professional associations, nursing groups and nursing students. Beverley is a member of the Quinte Literary Guild, Stephen Leacock Association, Quinte Arts Council, and Canadian Authors Association, as well as Brain Injury Association Quinte District and Ontario Brain Injury Association. Beverley writes from her Victorian farmhouse in Prince Edward County.