Sickened By: Felicia Boone

Important Information Title: Sickened Author: Julie Gregory Copyright: 2003 Type: Non-Fiction Subject Matter: Memoir of a child victim of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy ISBN:

Author’s purpose… The author’s purpose in writing the book “Sickened” was to share with the world what it was like to grow up with a mother who suffers from Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a metal illness that forces parents to purposefully sicken their children in order to obtain recognition from health care team members, as well as the sympathy from other parents whose children are genuinely sick. In addition to bringing awareness to what it was like to grow up with a parent whom is struggling with Munchausen by Proxy, the book was also written to bring light to what the disease is, and the lengths people will go to to get the attention that they want.

Point of View The book was written in the voice of the daughter, Julie, who’s mother is the one suffering from Munchausen by Proxy.

Intended Audience The intended audience of “Sickened” is for people who may be interested in learning about Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, or whom may be interested in a career in mental health, or simply in the general health care field.

Affect on Me… The book affected me in many different ways. It opened my eyes to what it would be like to grow up with a mentally ill parent, whom is suffering from the sad disease of Munchausen by Proxy as well as made me more aware of what the disease was and how it affects all aspects of people’s lives including; how it affects the mentally ill person, those they’re making sick, and their overall personal relationships with people.

Connections to A&P… Sickened relates to A&P in the following ways: Mental illness Emotional imbalance Purposeful harm to parts of the body, extremities etc.

Recommendation? I would recommend this book to others simply because I think it’s important for this disease to be understood better, as well as be made more aware of by all, especially health care personal, and those who know someone suffering from the disease. Therefore, I would recommend that health care professionals as well as aspiring health care professionals, families and friends of those suffering from Munchausen by Proxy and possibly even those whom suffer from the disease, read this book.

Theme The theme of “Sickened” by Julie Gregory is to step back and think about how the things you do affect those around you. In the book, Julie’s mother was selfish in the sense that she didn’t think about how making her sick all the time would affect not only her physical health but her mental and emotional well being as well.

Thesis Understanding the memory of a child growing up a victim of a mother with Munchausen by Proxy and how it affects the child.

Evaluation The book “Sickened” sparks the interest of those whom are interested in subjects pertaining to the health care field, although its plot line may spark the interest in those whom aren’t interested in the health care field. The content in the book is accurate in the sense that the information about Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome is correct, and reliable, and has the objective to teach and to bring light to the disease. For that same reason, “Sickened” is an important book in teaching about the disease. Although the book is thorough in telling what it’s like to grow up being a victim of a mother with Munchausen by Proxy, it is not as thorough in explaining what the disease is and how it affects the person in which is suffering from the disease, as well as I would like it to, however it does cover it a little. Lastly, the usefulness of this book to its intended audience is significant. As health care professionals, we only see the affects of our patients, residents or clients, but not the affects of the others whom are also being affected by mental illnesses such as Munchausen by Proxy. With this book, we are able to see how others are involved and affected by diseases such as this.