About the Book
This new version has been completely redesigned and laid. New covers, new preface and historically brought up to date. Additionally, many added photos. Find out what Philip is up to now!
After university Philip got his dream job: working with horses. All was going well for him until December 1994 when his life was to change forever. Crossing the road on the way to work, a car smashed into his legs causing him to fall on the bonnet and dislocate his shoulder. As the car braked he bounced off it, cracking his head against the side of a bus causing a massive head injury and his heart to stop beating... he died... for a few seconds.
Fortunately death wasn't terminal and since being hit by that car and his subsequent unexpected recovery he has gone through a period of great change and has learned many things; having experiences he did not understand he also saw things mankind maybe should not see. He started writing these things down.
What started as an autobiography about life, death and an unexpected resurrection has evolved into a truly inspirational book that will make the reader laugh and cry, often at the same time. Yet, in spite of its theme, it is not a miserable book - he wrote about his death and has even at times managed the not straightforward task of making the whole thing funny!
Flight of a Lifetime: miracles do happen may not change the world, but it may make people's perception of the world change.
Flight of a Lifetime: miracles do happen gives a very detailed insight into the lengthy treatment and rehabilitation after a serious head injury. It shows the skills of the medical profession and the loving support from parents, relatives and friends. But most of all it shows the courage and determination of the person himself in never giving up during the dark days of his recovery. This book is a definitive record of that recovery and of the rebuilding of a personality.
About the Author :
Philip Watling lives in Milton Keynes. Unable to work he still manages to do some. As a Support Worker for an autistic man he spends a few hours a week walking the man- even though walking can bring pain to his knee. Paramount in Philip's mind though is caring for others. This he also does by chatting to lots of people - on line and off - trying to help as many as he can. He also helps out in the local community including volunteering at the community fridge. When not doing that much of his week is spent at the gym, swimming and doing his own therapy. He also regularly meets up with friends - often for food! There may even be another book in him fighting to get out! Ultimately he wants the message of peace and friendship to pervade society."Reading, writing, walking and talking" have been down on his CV for many a year though reading is now difficult due to damage to his eyes and talking can be problematic due to damage to his pharynx, both from his car accident. He does like talking though! He has a love of animals although doesn't get to be around them as much as he'd like. He enjoys his garden, though mainly when it is sunny! Relaxing in the evening watching TV is always nice; sadly he usually falls asleep for a few hours before going to bed, missing the end of the programme...Favourite MusicAdele, Billy Joel, Blondie, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, Bruckner, Clannad, Debussy, Don Henley, Elton John, Enya, Gary Moore, Genesis, Huey Lewis and the News, Jean Michelle Jarre, Joan Armatrading, John Parr, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Phillip Glass, Queen, Spandau Ballet, Suzanne Vega, The Eagles, The Stranglers, U2Favourite BooksFlight of a Lifetime (obviously!), any books by Frederick Forsyth, The Mists of Avalon, Bodyguard of LiesHigher Education: Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. Zoology/Ecology. 1989 - 1992Activities and societies: Reading and writing, walking and talking, cooking and eating, gardening, horse riding. National Geographic, MensaWork: Support worker, Ipsos Consultant, and Author.man
Review :
Reviewed by Scarlett Jensen for Readers' Favourite
Flight of a Lifetime by Philip Watling describes his early childhood and development. Philip was 23 when his accident happened. He was thrown head first into the side of a bus, a fraction of an inch away from death on arrival at the hospital in London. In his view, the emergency flight in the helicopter was indeed a miraculous lifesaver. He remembers nothing of the five weeks that followed. Once he had regained consciousness, problems remained with his balance, vision, walking, speech, and motor skills. The chances of recovering without a degree of irreparable brain damage were slim. However, with time and lots of physiotherapy, speech therapy, and mental and physical rehabilitation, he went forward with hope and felt blessed by good fortune at the same time. Philip has done his best to see the inspirational good in what has happened. He was out of hospital after a mere five months. The major change in his life may never have happened had it not been for the accident. He then undertook to find his biological mother, Elizabeth. Maybe there was a reason for his continuing life.
Flight of a Lifetime is a work of encouragement and appreciation for the love, support, and complete dedication he received. The lesson is never to lose heart and hope and to delve into the self to seek everlasting peace, happiness, and humour. Philip Watling's determination and courage can only be applauded. By the summer of 1997, he realized that he was stronger and fitter than he had been before his accident. The value of this story lies in his sharing knowledge specific to other head injury patients. This book lets your mind shift and awakens you to a world of possibilities. Greater opportunities await each of us with the prerequisite of pushing past perceived limitations, doubt, and fear. For Philip, poor self-talk can destroy the self-defeating thoughts. He demonstrates his fearless ability to fight, try new things, and navigate his body, mind, and soul toward recovery and to better himself. Philip's writing style is simple and clear. Any person who survives a near-fatal accident will find inspiration in this book to learn how to resume a meaningful life and an independent future.
Respectfully reviewed by: Dominick P. Varsalone RN, ACRN Photographer, and Author of "My Journey as an AIDS Nurse", published 2016
When a human being writes their story of their life, death, and resurrection, it is always an emotional read. As a registered Nurse in AIDS Care, I could easily identify with every word written in this book and actually view it from both the patient perspective and the healthcare professional perspective. This has to do, I am sure, with Philip's writing style. Reading each chapter, I felt I was with him as part of the healthcare teams' every moment from the time of his accident until the glorious day of discharge. The people he encountered on his journey became my colleagues, my friends and my family. Every step of Philip's recovery became my struggle, as I felt I was there holding him up too. I have read many memoirs, and I have even written my own, and "Flight of a Lifetime" was one of the best I have read. While I hung on to every part of the book, my favourite part was the ending. I hope and pray that this type of accident will never happen to another human being, and I do not mean any disrespect in saying this, but "When someone gets this close t
