Spotlight Review of The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine by Shirley Cheng
Reviewed by: Christina Francine for Reviewer's Bookwatch on Midwest Book Review; July 2005
Why is it possible in America, the land of the free, that a parent cannot disagree with a doctor’s recommendation for treatment? If they do, their child could be taken from them. Social Services can be called in. How could it also be possible for a hospital to take parents to court for intercepting unwanted treatment? Well, in this great nation supposedly run by the people for the people, parental rights aren’t what they used to be. We all know people who neglect or abuse their children and intervention is necessary for them. This is not the same. Shirley Cheng’s autobiography is about this injustice, about how she, a blind and physically disabled young woman with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and her mother were treated.
This extraordinary young lady begins her eye-opening autobiography with her birth, taking readers through her life to the age of twenty. Her current age is twenty-two. She reveals the truth of her experiences and the pain involved. Shirley is happy and relieved. No one can tear her away from the only person who truly cared for her any more, and suffered insurmountable injustice in order to keep and protect her – her mother. Finally too, doctors cannot give her treatment she does not want. Shirley tells her tale of heroism and courage, as well as her mother’s. Living with a disease is bad enough. Shirley suffered much pain along with disabilities, difficulties and hardships. She shouldn’t have had to justify and battle with doctors, hospitals, social-workers, teachers, aides, guidance counselors, and principals. This is what they dealt with year after year. The professionals that should have been helpful, compassionate, supportive, and understanding, were the very ones who hurt, separated, and lied about them.
Shirley’s unique way of writing further provides readers with a window to her intelligence, insight, and nature. Her matter-of-fact, original style and ability to prove a point is powerful. She wrote this book using a screen reader, JAWS, on the computer. Shirley has authored another book, Daring Quests of Mystics that was published in November 2003, and an anthology of short-stories and poems, Dance with Your Heart: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells, self-published when she was twenty-one. Because she was in and out of hospitals for years, Shirley didn’t go to school until the age of eleven. Amazingly, she advanced enough, even though she didn’t know any English, into sixth grade. Shirley has received numerous awards, received a 100 score on New York State essay tests, published in The Poughkeepsie Journal in October 1997 and in Celebrate! New York’s Young Poets Speak Out in 1999, and averaged a GPA in high school of 3.9 (97). She wishes to go to Harvard University and earn doctorates in microbiology, zoology, astronomy, physiology, and pathology. She will receive eye surgery hoping to restore her vision as she is blind.
This book is for those who are suffering, or who have someone close to them who is, from a severe medical problem. It’s for those who’ve battled not only to find a cure for a disease or at least a better situation, and have had to deal with insurance companies, doctors and hospitals, teachers, schools, and social services as well. It will open eyes of readers without these types of problems and of those with compassion and a sense of what is right.
Shirley Cheng offers a look into her world providing disturbing truths about America’s medical and school systems. She reveals how some doctors lie on their patient’s documents and when cannot offer a solution or diagnosis for a disease often label the victim as mentally ill or depressed. She tells of instances when in a hospital, a staff member turned on her room light in the middle of the night waking her to clean the room, and of when they wouldn’t help her sit to relieve her bladder. This book tells of numerous astonishing situations that Shirley and her mother endured. They shouldn’t have had to deal with this in America. Unfortunately this great nation has its problems. The state of our medical, insurance, and parental rights needs a severe overhaul. Shirley’s Mom, Juliet Cheng, says it best through first-hand experience: “No doctor in China would ever take away a mother’s custody when she simply disagreed with medically recommended treatment.” Also, “In China, no such things could ever happen. No one would even think of doing it.” And about schools: “America’s schools feel odd when seeing parents in school.” She could not comprehend it. “In China, parents could freely go to the school while classes were in session.” Juliet felt that America simply had too many rules and regulations with no exceptions for unique circumstances.
I agreed to review this book because I’m the parent of a child with a severe medical chronic disease. What we found when seeking treatment for her was surprisingly astounding. America’s medical system was anything but helpful, understanding and fair. On the contrary, they created more obstacles and worries. The school system at first acted the same way. Luckily, that changed, but ONLY, I believe, because I was employed at the school at the time. The hassle and proof I had to go through left me frazzled, unable to sleep, and close to a nervous break down. As I read Shirley Cheng’s book, I nodded in agreement often knowing what they went through wasn’t being exaggerated. Many doctors have a big ego and don’t have any respect for parents. My husband and I know our daughter’s circumstances, what is normal, what medications work and the ones that don’t, better than any doctor, nurse, social worker, judge, teacher or principal. When relaying this or making suggestions though, we were met with “She must be depressed” from the doctors. This was their response as to why, and then prescribed anti-depressant drugs. My opinion was that if you took away her daily, month after month pain she wouldn’t be depressed.
Readers of Shirley Cheng’s autobiography cannot help but wonder if she’d have been better off without America’s medical system. Things might have also have been different had her father shown more concern, involvement, and love. Despite surmountable odds, Shirley obtained an education, academic achievement, and was published.
I recommend this book to everyone. America will be better when it gives power back to parents. Granted, there are times when abusive parents need interception, yet the average parent wants what is paramount for their child and loves them.
A disturbing, and enlightening read. Authentic, honest, and profound. Will change reader’s outlook.
