I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia

This is an incredible book about a woman who gets hit on the head by a ceiling fan that falls onto her. There are a lot of things that are hard to believe when you read this book. For one, it is extremely disappointing that she gets very little support or therapy for all the physical challenges she faces. How can the so-called experts and doctors expect her to learn things - on her own ? ? ? It is a sad state of affairs that doctors more or less left her to fend for herself ! She was only in the hospital for three weeks and was then released to go home & take care of two little toddlers and her husband. As to the subject of her husband - what a challenge he is! As for support - NO. As for understanding - NO. She really struggles to just get thru daily life. I really feel sorry to her. I cannot imagine going thru what she has - what problems she has to go thru. I must say that it is hard to believe how seriously injured she was from the fan hitting her head. I was truly shocked that her memory just vanished because of this. We really don't know that much about the brain & how delicate it can be! This is a remarkable book to read!

I wanted to read this book, because I actually work with Su's sister Barb...and she had told me about what had happened to Su..and I was intrigued. There are times in my life where I wished I couldnt remember what happened, because I was sad about it, or angry. Reading this memoir I realize that forgetting is more horrendous than remembering sometimes.

Su Meck suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, and had to not only deal with the loss of two decades, but she had to also then remember how to do the simplist things AND deal with a husband who was less than supportive (to say the least). With the help of friends and family she was able to write this and fill in some blanks along the way. It was an interesting read, knowing the family personally it was easy for me to delve right in, but I think for some it might be a lazy beach read where you can spend some time with all the details and absorb.

I honor Su for being so honest, for telling her truths no matter how harsh (looking at that husband) and for helping others with the same injury by doing so.

I very much enjoyed this first-person narrative of amnesia, although I felt awful about the way Jim treated Su. I do understand that it was good of him to help her go through all the memories and put them in a book, though. I feel awful for her that she was in a fog for so long, but glad she's gaining understanding now. I also feel bad for her kids that they had to take on too much responsibility, but glad they seem to be doing well now, too. Best wishes to the whole family (even Jim).

This is the memoir (written with a ghost writer) of a woman who when a twenty-two year old wife and mother living in Texas in the late 1980's received a traumatic brain injury when accidentally hit in the head by a ceiling fan. This injury resulted in her suffering from the unusual condition of amnesia. Ms. Meck is quite honest about her personal struggles in her book that were exacerbated by her unusual memory loss including some problems with her husband Jim to whom she is still married some twenty-five years after the accident. This should be fascinating stuff but it is written in such a distant, non-engaging manner I can't give the book more than three stars. Some relevant photos of Ms. Meck and family members are included.

The thing is, don't we all experiences of pretending to be or know things we don't know? And haven't we all been surprised to find that someone's internal world is astonishingly different from ours? Su Meck's book isn't just about traumatic brain injury - it's about individual differences and the ways we try to conform with others' expectations, and the ways we subtly and unconsciously push other to conform to our own expectations. Her story is a stark example of the ways that a person can "fake it" and pretend to be what other people expect them to be, and the ways that we often unintentionally make other people pretend for us. Such an important story, told with clarity and grace.

This is not just another horror story. Ms. Meck and her co-author succeed, against all odds, in constructing a thorough, convincing story from necessarily limited data. The book makes us realize that all memories, and family accounts, and even medical records, are always incomplete. It does a remarkable job of sustaining its momentum throughout all of the necessary "must-have-beens".

Also, without being at all pessimistic, the book forces us to confront the ways in which our own blessings can't be taken for granted, and how we deal with our own limitations, and their impact on our loved ones. I appreciate its honesty in showing how much resolve and stamina are required to live well with this or any chronic disability. Ms. Meck is not a plaster saint, but she is something better; an approachable, strong, and human model.

What an unimaginable thing to have happen; losing your memory. Su Meck is a young mother raising a family with her husband when tragedy strikes. A ceiling fan falls and hits her in the head. Luckily, she survived (as well as the child she was carrying), but she suffers a brain injury that is so severe that she suffers from retrograde amnesia-which is rare.

It's one thing to have the injury itself, but to lose your memory of your whole life is horrible! Then to have doctors say you're making it up--unbelievable.

Things might have been different with the medical knowledge we have now, but this was 1988. She was sent home after a short time in the hospital.

Remarkable, inspiring story of a very brave woman.

This was a very well written, interesting book of a very strong family. I cannot imagine life not knowing basic knowledge like how to run a toaster or having my child help me through the day and care for me. Great read of her life and the struggles of such a loss.

This book gives a fascinating glimpse of the human mind. The way we remember things and reflect on memories is part of who we are. Su's experience makes one ponder the the blend of memories, outlooks and attitudes that make us who we are.

Great read for Bookclub. Always love the books that prove true the statement "fact is stranger than fiction". Appears Su has accomplished more in her lifetime after her accident than lots of us who take our memories and daily rituals for granted.

Read this book for book club—everyone loved it! Made for really interesting conversation. Fascinating story, so relevant too, considering all the recent news reports and studies concerning head injury/trauma. Loved that a reporter (Dan Devise) researched, gathered facts, and interviewed so many people. It really rounded out and anchored Sue Meck's story.

A great story of perserverence and survival. Su Meck is a strong women who overcame a closed head injury and rebuilt her life courageously. Well written and enjoyed by every member of my Maryland book club

This book hit me as odd from the very beginning. How could a woman who has sever amnesia write a memoir in the first person begin prior to the head injury that caused the amnesia?

It appears that she is recapping a puzzle assembled by others and taking it as fact.

I cannot say that it is not true since memoirs are an amalgamation of stories that emphasize the good and minimize the bad – unless you are going for dramatic effect. But for me, I could not become engaged with either the book or Su Meck herself.

Being considered clumsy her whole life, Su Meck just happens to be standing under a ceiling fan in the kitchen when it comes crashing down on her and miraculously misses her infant son. The book tells of her recovery bouncing back and forth between the before and after.

Unfortunately, this book has not stuck with me. There is very little that is memorable and each chapter titled with lyrics was just peculiar.