Every Deep-Drawn Breath

About the book

Every Deep-Drawn Breath by Wes Ely is a non-fiction book for adult readers.

A world-renowned critical-care doctor offers hope for patients, their families, and the future of medicine in this timely, urgent, and compassionate work about the devastating and little-known physical and emotional effects of ICU stays. As COVID-19 survivors are discharged from hospitals, grateful to be alive, most don't realise that the hardest part of their battle may be about to begin.

Many will return home and struggle with long-term physical, mental, and emotional problems either caused or exacerbated by the life-saving treatment they received in intensive care. They'll join the ranks of critical-care survivors whose lives are completely upturned by a hospital stay. More than half of the patients admitted to ICUs will struggle with post-intensive care syndrome, which can include Alzheimer's-like cognitive deficits, PTSD, muscle and nerve damage, and depression. Their personal and professional lives can suffer irreparably. Worst of all, no one seems to understand that they have an illness at all.

Delivery & pickup: Available from Whimsy and Wonder with New Zealand delivery or Christchurch pickup.