This book was provided to me from Netgalley, so I can read and review it before it’s published.
The only reason I read this book, was because I liked the title (a very nice playlist of verses of songs was mentioned throughout the book). I really want that playlist! So, basically, Matt is losing his hearing, and before he loses it completely, he wants to remember certain songs.
He was diagnosed with a rare condition called NF2 which caused tumors in his brain that affected his hearing loss and balance issues. He did have hearing aids, which helped, but it was never perfect. Later, he did a get an Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) when he lost his hearing for good. It has helped him hear better, but again, it will never be perfect.
I will mention, and tell you, that this is much more about Matt’s story than music.
He had a lot of up and downs in regard to surgeries. It was nice that he wasn’t alone in this, as he had the support and help from his family and from his girlfriend and her family (whom he eventually married). She put her career and schooling on hold.
He persevered and ended up running in a marathon and participated in an Ironman competition. He got married and they have three kids. Would the kids be prone to NF2? That was something else they had to consider. Thankfully, the answer was no after a lot of research.
At a few points in the book, I wanted to cry in tears of happiness for him.
I really enjoyed his honesty about everything he has gone through and am looking forward to reading more about him in the future.
I can kind of relate to him as I have a rare vocal cord condition called Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia and when I was first diagnosed in 2006, I thought eventually, I may end up not being able to speak. I was terrified and thought, well, I can learn sign language or use a computer to speak for me. Fortunately, that never happened as the treatments of speech therapy and Botox injections have helped me tremendously. Most of the time, when I speak, you can’t even notice that I have ABSD. Unfortunately, many other people with the same condition, have barely any voice at all.
