I just discovered this wonderful forum! I am the author of Don't Leave Me This or when I get back on my feet you'll be sorry (HarperCollins June 06), my personal memoir of my struggle to regain control over my life and body following a devastating hemorrhagic stroke. I believe my experience is a blueprint for how not to let the system dictate the direction, pace, and objectives of one's recovery. My new mission post-stroke, is to help patients help themselves and improve the doctor/patient relationship. There's an Appendix for patient advocacy tools that any patient (or doctor) will find useful--afterall, it is a partnership.