I’ve got a new review up at Graphic Medicine! Three Nines Fine – A journey with brain health by Alanah Knibb (writer and illustrator), Omotola Thomas (original story), Dr Angelika Karkali (science advisor). Three Nines Fine is an 87 page comic book that you can purchase or download for free.
Three Nines Fine tells the story of Asabi Olayemi, a brilliant African entrepreneur with moves to the UK, in part so that she can get treatment for her early onset Parkinson’s disease (PD). Once she gets to the UK, however, it’s a very different story for her to get treatment, be seen and heard as an African woman. None of the Parkinson’s research brochures represent anyone like her, and she can’t find anyone like her with PD. Through the support of a wonderful spouse, friends and family Asabi challenges biases within herself (it’s not a failing to take medication), within communities and within medical institutions.
Along the way it provides very practical, actionable things anyone can do to reduce the risk of getting dementia. I feel doubly glad that I had this book in my mental list of mental health resources as I’ve already been able to pass it on to someone whose mom, originally from Africa, was going through extreme distress from several illnesses. Life is harder than it should be for too many, because of biases! I was grateful to have something that could help contextualize their pain and frightening experiences into a broader story and broader positive social action.
One of the things I love about comic books and cartoons is how accessible they can make continual learning and listening to lots of different people and stories. Thanks Rochelle Knibb, Omotola Thomas, Dr Angelika Karkali and Alzheimer Research UK for making this book happen. You can read the full review over at Graphic Medicine.
