Josie's Story - by Sorrel King (Paperback)

About the Book

The account of one woman's unlikely path from full-time mom to nationally renowned patient advocate, "Josie's Story" is the inspirational chronicle of how a mother--and her unforgettable daughter--are transforming the face of American medicine.

Book Synopsis

Sorrel King was a 32-year-old mother of four when her eighteen-month-old daughter, Josie, was horribly burned by water from a faulty water heater in the family's new Baltimore home. She was taken to Johns Hopkins--renowned as one of the best hospitals in the world--and Sorrel stayed in the hospital with Josie day-in and day-out until she had almost completely recovered. Just before her discharge, however, she was erroneously injected with methadone, and died soon after.

Sorrel's account of her unlikely path from grieving parent to nationally renowned advocate is interwoven with descriptions of her and her family's slow but steady road to recovery, and ends with a deeply affecting description of a ski trip they took recently. The sun is shining, her children are healthy, and they are all profoundly happy--a condition that Sorrel has learned to appreciate all the more for Josie.

The book ends with a resource guide for patients, their families, and healthcare providers; it includes information about how to best manage a hospital stay and how to handle a medical error if one does occur.

Review Quotes

"A riveting and polgnant account of the impact of preventable harm in our health care system." -- Rosemary Gibson

"A wonderful book, written with deep insight into the uncertain world of medicine. The tale of this family grips the heart and illuminates the mind." -- Dr. Jerome Groopman

"I am confident that Sorrel has saved countiess lives by sharing her story and challenging physicians and administrators to critically examine how they provide care. She made a difference for our Children's Hospital and we are forever grateful." -- Craig Cordola

"Josle's story has served as a beacon for me and thousands of other health-care professionals." -- Dr. Louise Liang

"Sorrel King is a heroic figure in the health-care movement. Josie's story and Sorrel's determination are making care safer for millions of patients. At its core, this is a powerful and immensely moving love story." -- Charles Kenney

"Sorrel King took the tragic death of her daughter and used it to transform the culture of the nation's top hospital--and ultimately the entire world of medicine." -- Dr. Robert Wachter

"Sorrel's story . . . teaches us that listening is as Important as doing, reminding us that our learning is a journey, and that our true teachers sit in front of us in hospital beds and on exam tables each day." -- Dr. David Shulkin