His Bright Light
The Story of Nick Traina
by Danielle Steel

Clearly, Nick Traina was intelligent and articulate at a very early age and, even as a toddler, his mother knew he was different.  But, try as she may, she couldn’t get professionals to see what she saw in Nick.  In his formative years, she saved hundreds of dark drawings and talked with psychiatrists and school officials, alike, but professionals believed that Nick’s angry and aggressive behavior was due to the turmoil of an ever growing and changing family structure.  (Steel had nine children.)  The story that follows drives the point home – clearly – that no one knows a child as well as his/her mother.

His Bright Light, The Story of Nick Traina is the true story of Danielle Steel’s eldest son, initially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) in early adolescence.  The most troubling symptom of A.D.D. is that of acting on impulse and, for Nick, it was often with dangerous repercussions.  Later, Nick was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder with atypical Manic Depressive symptoms.  In the several years that followed, flurries of visits to psychiatrists and short-terms stays in numerous hospitals, each time, were met with frustration.  Doctors were hesitant to label (and, hence, medicate) someone so young, but the ultimate diagnose was inevitable:  Nick was Manic Depressive.  Once there was an accurate diagnosis, the medication (lithium) made an immediate difference in the quality of Nick’s life.  It was then that he was most functional and successful.

Most alarming, though, is the fact that Manic Depression is lethal in approximately 30% of all cases.  In his mother’s words:  "Nick was like a burning cigarette tossed into the dry grass at the edge of a summer forest.  He was a forest fire waiting to happen, and while the conflagration began to burn, and the flames began to devour him, none of us could yet see it."  Not uncommon for someone with Manic Depression was the fact that when Nick felt himself slipping into depression, he began to self-medicate, with near-lethal results.  He had three failed suicide attempts before he was finally successful.

This reader found distraction early in the book when Ms. Steel consistently referenced future incidents, causing difficulty relating to, and focusing on, the then current events.  Many times throughout the book, there were details that were repeated a mere two pages later, as if the author had forgotten that she just mentioned that particular incident.  Additionally, there was a gross overuse of commas throughout and, many, many sentences that began with conjunctions and an uncommon amount of incomplete sentences.  While to some, these things may seem insignificant, as a writer, this added to the distraction and confusion during the read.  This reader was sadly disappointed by the lack of editing for an author of Steel’s notoriety.

Still, Ms. Steel’s story is wrought with the power of love, not only between a mother and her child, but also evident was the bond of love among siblings.  Steel skillfully magnifies the frustrations, the feeling of helplessness, and that of the burdens felt by parents of a child with a mental illness.

Probably most disturbing – and enlightening – are Nick’s journal entries included in this painful and moving story.  Steel could tell the tale in thousands of words, thousands of pages, but none spoke as loudly or with as much clarity as these.

This book is an imperative read for anyone who knows of someone with a mental illness, loves someone with a mental illness, or who hopes to work in the field.  His Bright Light, The Story of Nick Traina will stimulate and awaken the mind and, hopefully, bring compassion and understanding to its readers.

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2006 Tami C Ryan