Wow. What a story. Not to be missed.

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

On the Way to Casa Lotus: A Memoir of Family, Art, Injury, and Forgiveness is a book I won't soon forget. It tells Lorena Junco Margain's haunting story of her life after her surgeon's error. The author spent the next couple of years in pain, utterly exhausted, and feeling as though she had lost her mind ... only to be patted on the head (after seeing doctor after doctor) and told there was nothing wrong with her. This happens, especially to women, far more than it should and I don't know why that is.

As Ms. Margain wrote: "...the surgeon made a catastrophic mistake, destroyed my health, and left me with a lifetime of medical issues that can never be fully resolved and will likely take years off my life." Thank heavens for the strong and loving support system she had.

It was quite interesting to learn more about Mexican culture than I already knew. From holidays, food, beliefs, familial support, and art, the author does a wonderful job of sharing so much! One of my very favorite parts of the book was the story of how Lorena and Eduardo met. I couldn't stop laughing!!

This is not an easy book to review without spoilers but I must say I will never again be frustrated when I'm asked over and over (and over) what my name is, my birthdate, allergy info, and what part of my body is to be operated on! I will thank everyone for being so careful!!

Most of all, I will never forget the author's amazing capacity to forgive.

A great memoir from a debut author! A quick read, but wow ... what a read! What a compassionate woman!
After going through the ordeal of a surgeon making a horrendous mistake, instead of suing she sought out compassion and decided to work through her thoughts and emotions by writing this book. My heart goes out to her. Lorena, I'm sending you a spiritual hug!

I really didn't have an understanding of what role adrenal glands do to support the body; thank you for educating me and providing an understanding of what the body goes through when they aren't functioning properly.

Recently I've read novels American Dirt (by Jeanine Cummins) and Afterlife (by Julia Alvarez); we have heard your story regarding surgery. I'd love to hear your story from the perspective of immigration in the midst of this botched surgery ... and then successful surgery.

It seems that this book may have been released previously but there is a new publication date of 01 Oct 2021. This book is definitely worth a read, even if it is to just make sure that your doctor is operating on the proper body component. (I remember having surgery once and the doctor wrote on my elbow with a Sharpie "THIS ONE".)

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Lorena Junco Margain and the publisher Cuco Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the opportunity to read this advance read copy of On the Way to Casa Lotus: A Memoir of Family, Art, Injury and Forgiveness in exchange for an honest review. All the best to you!

Lorena Junco Margain grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, but was privileged to travel and study abroad. She married a Mexican national of similar status. Family (including extended family) and tradition were important in their lives. They lived in Austin, TX, with Lorena's husband commuting to Mexico for work during the week. (By the end of the book she and her husband become American citizens.)
Lorena writes eloquently of the non-specific malaise that sent her to several doctors. The closest she got to a diagnosis was postpartum depression until she accompanied her sister on a follow-up visit for thyroid cancer surgery. Because of her sister's medical history, the doctor suggested Lorena undergo testing as well. A tumor on her right adrenal gland was discovered. She went to the same surgeon who repaired a hernia after her youngest child was born.
After surgery, Lorena felt worse but everyone told her she just needed time to recover. Four weeks later, she collapsed in the Red Lobster parking lot and was rushed to the hospital. They discovered a tumor on her right adrenal gland. Lorena thought she was suffering a repeat of what she had just been treated for, only on the other side. It wasn't until her doctor called her with the news that he had removed the wrong, healthy adrenal gland that she realized what was happening.
Lorena's foundational belief system was an amalgamation of the Catholicism with which she was raised, new age philosophy, and a smattering of Eastern religion. First, she focused on getting out of the health crisis she had been plunged into, then she debated whether she should bring a malpractice suit against the surgeon.
It was the worst of circumstances, and the error could not be undone. In Lorena's words, "...the surgeon made a catastrophic mistake, destroyed my health, and left me with a lifetime of medical issues that can never be fully resolved and will likely take years off my life."
I'll let you read her book to find out her decision on the lawsuit, but the bottom line is her choice to forgive the surgeon.
Lorena had a strong family support system and she was educated and wealthy. She will always suffer the effects of the surgeon's mistake, but she is choosing to be positive about the situation. I wonder if a low-income and poorly educated woman without a strong support system were in the same situation, could they choose the positivity, choose to forgive?
Thanks for the arc, @NetGalley!
#NetGalley #OntheWaytoCasaLotus #CucoPress #forgiveness #malpractice #adrenalgland @ljuncomargain

A very interesting read that really reinforces that women should trust their gut!

The author did a great job of walking the reader through her illness and then the "fix" that ended up making her so much worse. I really liked the way she focused on forgiveness even though this surgeon did so much harm.

The Review

This was a beautiful memoir that made a huge impact early on in the book. The author takes a really fresh and kind look at a terrible situation. Striking to find the balance between speaking up for oneself and forgiving someone who has wronged you can be a tricky thing to do, especially in this modern age where people can be vilified with the simple push of a button. It was refreshing to see the author’s perspective take flight in this book, highlighting the heartbreaking reality that no matter how good a person is, we are all flawed, and hating someone is never going to change that.

The author does a wonderful job of capturing so much within this book. From the author’s culture and the shock of leaving the life you know behind to find safety in a much different land, to the fear and frustration that can come with facing not only a difficult health diagnosis but a failed attempt at correcting that diagnosis, this book expertly weaves the author’s life and experiences together while finding the perfect harmony with the author’s message of hope and forgiveness.

The Verdict

A heartfelt, emotional, and ultimately uplifting memoir that highlights the journey to overcome a great wrong and find peace in the wake of tragedy, author Lorena Junco Margain’s “On the Way to Casa Lotus” is a must-read non-fiction read. A thought-provoking story that speaks to so many of us, the author creates a great sense of pacing and imagery that brings their experiences to life wonderfully, and readers will be hard-pressed to put this book down themselves. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

This is a story of a woman who suffers a debilitating and personal loss of bodily functions and sense of self after a surgeon, whom she trusted, makes a vital mistake. She suffers through a haze of not knowing or understanding why she feels so much pain and craziness until she finally learns the truth and begins to heal slowly.

The author writes lovingly and poetically of her close-knit family, art, love, and forgiveness in this emotional and agonizing memoir. Her family plays an important role in her life and her recovery, and references to her career as an artist and collector are woven throughout her story. As Margain philosophizes about her life and her injuries, readers will come to understand that compassion and forgiveness are possible, no matter what the circumstances.