Review: Tangled toes, pins & needles

Published Apr 20, 2012

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Tangled toes, pins & needles

By Richard Pike

(TerraNova, R135)

The story is about Richard Pike, an ordinary man who has lived through the horrific trauma of having his back broken in a car accident and then, slowly but surely, recovering from it to walk again.

The book delivers a straightforward message: “When all is lost, there is everything to gain.”

One can only imagine how frightening the accident and resultant injury must have been for Pike and his family, especially considering that he was only in his late teens at the time.

Athletic, disciplined and relatively popular, hearing that he might not have been able to walk again must have come as a dreadful shock to the then young man in his first year at Wits University.

Looking back on this time, he reflects with the drollness of an enlightened soul.

Each chapter contains messages of hope and wisdom, reinforcing the notion of better recognising what you have through it being taken away.

Unfortunately, many do not relate or grow from lessons that are not personally experienced. Then again, there are always those who have gone through, or are experiencing, similar events.

To a person who has never had spinal discomfort, let alone paralysis of the lower limbs, Pike’s words may be very distant. That said, there may be a person lying in a hospital bed, immobile, or undergoing physio- therapy, to whom Pike’s book will come as a ray of hope during a dark time.

There is also the back story that deals with family, friends and nursing staff, which is full of drama and amusing predicaments.

If you know a person who is recovering from a car accident and is unable to walk, this book is a great gift to get them. Or, if you knew Pike or about him at a time in your life and were subjected to “Did you hear what happened to Richard?” tittle-tattle, I’m sure it will put everything into perspective. – Tshepo Tshabalala

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