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The One Book Every First Responder Shouldn’t Be Without

A Review of A Medic's Mind by Matthew Heneghan

By Heather DownPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Photo Credit: Matthew Heneghan

Whether deployed or not, being in the military has its challenges and inherent hazards. The same can be said of first responders such as firefighters, police officers and paramedics. They run to danger when the rest of us flee. They often witness the worst of humanity and the most heinous of circumstances.

Of course, a first responder knows what they have signed up for, but no one can ever fully predict their own response to trauma. There is no clear-cut way of knowing whether or not you will react to situations with simply a healthy trauma response or if it will morph into the challenges of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therein lies the rub.

Enter Matthew Heneghan and his book A Medic’s Mind. Poignant yet hopeful, Matthew firmly establishes himself as the Picasso of words in his lyrical debut memoir. Born in England, Matthew immigrated to Canada at a young age only to face the challenges of abuse and adversity while growing up in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada.

Matthew’s writing is nothing short of a gift.

– Chris Kaye, Chief Warrant Officer (Retired), CAF

Matthew’s career choice was cemented the day the Twin Towers fell, and he was determined to be a medic in the Canadian Armed Forces. He followed his dream to serve his country and consequently developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Returning to civilian life, Matthew became a paramedic, only for the traumas from this new career to haunt him even more.

Powerful and incredibly inspiring…Heneghan writes with a disarming honestly…

- The Prairies Book Review

The book is cleverly divided into three parts or “jackets” as they are dubbed. They are both figurative and literal jackets that represent his careers and sense of purpose. The book also weaves the present cleverly with the past, arranging anecdotes by theme and significance verses chronological order, making it a fascinating read. It was longlisted for the Miramichi Reader’s Award for nonfiction in 2020.

Facing the loss of his mother, career, identity, and much more, Matthew embarked on a journey to find a new calling, a new sense of identity. His book takes the reader with him, inside his mind, from shadows to a world where hope exists. Based loosely on his blog and popular podcast, A Medic’s Mind, this book is exquisitely written, touching on the topics of the military, first responders, despair, addiction, abuse, mental health, and most importantly, growth and recovery.

The evolution of his career through the army and subsequent paramedicine field consistently took him into the most traumatic of circumstances. Within those treacherous circumstances lies the potential for deep moral injury.

– Todd McGowan, Chief Warrant Office (Retired) CAF

The book is not all heavy, however. Matthew has a wicked sense of humour and the laugh-out-loud spit-your-coffee-out stories, especially in the second section—the part about being a civilian paramedic, are nothing short of epic. There are stories of characters who are hard to believe aren’t out of a fictional novel, circumstances of the utmost hilarity, and patients who will make you howl with laughter. There are some touching moments, too. Moments of kindness, where the best of humanity shines through.

How this memoir rises above others that I have read in this genre is two-fold: First, Matthew’s ability to use all the senses to describe a scene are unparalleled. He drops you right into the time, place, and circumstance. You smell the smells, you see the sights, and you hear the sounds. What better way to encourage empathy other than bringing the reader into his world?

From behind my eyes, I could see bloodied faces. My ears recalled shrill screams and deafening pleas of pain and anguish. I was now standing in the footprints of a criminal—the tread of those footprints belonged to me. What had I done?

– Matthew Heneghan, A Medic’s Mind

Second, I have not read a memoir that has given as much insight into understanding the symptoms of PTSD as this one does. From flashbacks to auditory and olfactory hallucinations, this book really tells a story that is relatable, thus increasing empathy toward anyone with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Matt continues to write for his widely popular blog, however, a real treat is listening to his podcast. He has one of the most pleasant radio voices I have had ever heard, and his well-produced or impromptu podcasts are always entertaining and thoughtful.

This is one title you shouldn’t miss!

To follow Matthew Heneghan on social media, search @amedicsmind.

book reviews
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About the Creator

Heather Down

I am an observer of life through the lens of middle age. Owner of an independent publishing house and a published author, I spend my time obsessing about all things communication. Follow me at Wintertickle Press.

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