The Blink of an Eye: A Memoir of Dying--and Learning How to Live Again Audiobook

Acclaimed by Bill Bryson as “spellbinding and harrowing,” the story of one woman’s dramatic recovery from life-threatening illness

At the age of 38, Danish scientist Rikke Schmidt Kjærgaard is struck down by an acute bout of bacterial meningitis. Weeks later, she wakes from a coma in intensive care to find herself “locked in,” unable to show she is conscious except by blinking her eyes. Despite a mere 5 percent chance of survival, she makes a miraculous recovery and returns to the world—painfully learning how to breathe, move, eat, and speak again, even resume her work as a scientist. The Blink of an Eye is a celebration of love, family, and every little thing that matters when life is in the balance—by a writer uniquely positioned to describe the journey from death back to life.

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"This is a fascinating and inspirational story of beating the odds. In "The Blink of an Eye" Danish scientist Kjaergaard fell ill and was first diagnosed with the flu. A short time later, the diagnosis was changed to bacterial meningitis and she was declared clinically dead. Learning how to communicate through blinks and hand squeezes, having fingers cut off and coming back from the dead makes this story one that will peak your interest and keep you engaged to find out how this story will end. This is a great book!"

— Julie (5 out of 5 stars)