The Tenth Nerve

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Riveting and dramatic, this memoir offers a rare glimpse into the life of a prominent neurosurgeon and the seven remarkable patients who transformed him. Dr. Chris Honey, a skilled neurosurgeon at Vancouver General Hospital, intertwines his personal journey with compelling case studies that highlight both the excitement of scientific discovery and the limitations of medicine. While operating on a terminally ill child during an Ebola outbreak in Liberia, he reevaluates his understanding of what it means to 'win' against disease. Reflecting on his path into neurosurgery, he illuminates a high-stakes field that traditionally demands emotional detachment and attracts intense personalities. With compassion, he shares the stories of patients grappling with mysterious illnesses, two of whom led to the discovery of a new disease and its cure. In engaging prose, he takes readers into the operating room to witness this groundbreaking discovery involving the tenth cranial nerve. Additionally, an unexpected friendship with a former patient challenges his views on clinical detachment and the true meaning of 'quality of life.' Combining a humane perspective, vivid anecdotes, and a deep curiosity about the human brain, this memoir is a captivating exploration that inspires wonder.