Book Review: Silver Lining by Kamal Shah

Silver Lining by Kamal Shah is a heartfelt insightful book that narrates the struggles of a patient and then an entrepreneur’s journey. Broadly seen, the book has two narratives. First the author’s personal battle against chronic kidney failure disease, and secondly how he sets up Nephroplus, India’s leading dialysis provider healthcare company.

It all started at a tender age for Kamal Shah. In 1997 when he was a young promising student, all set for higher studies in the USA. But little did he know that fate has stored something else for him. Between his preparations to the USA, he suffered from a typical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (A HUS), sort of kidney failure. Since then his life was never the same.

He went through a kidney transplant, donated by his mother, but that wasn’t successful. As the book chugs ahead, he talks about famous hospitals and doctors of Hyderabad and their medical treatment history. Of course the book is written from a patient’s point of view, filled with a range of medical terms related to kidney failure. As the author, explores new ways of dialysis and struggled with old systems, he wins your heart by showing an intact wave of sheer determination. It is heartbreaking to see how a chronic disease like kidney failure can turn anyone’s life into living nightmare. Probably, Kamal’s most sought-after aspiration was to lead a normal life.

The second part of the book discusses at length the need of setting up dialysis focused healthcare centers in India that could provide affordable services to patients hailing from EWS to middle class segment. This book is a must-read for patients of chronic diseases if they wish to come out of like a pro champion the way Kamal did.

At times the book may sound totally new to general readers as it brims with many medical related terms and processes. Yet its intensity and vastness of scope cannot be denied. You can learn to battle through life – this is the biggest teaching you can take away from the book.

In this absolutely stunning memoir, Kamal reveals himself in a raw and unguarded manner, exposing the depths of his life’s struggle as a patient. Reading this memoir feels like engaging in a conversation with Kamal. His language is unembellished and direct, devoid of any intention to evoke sympathy. Clearly, he wrote this memoir to share his story with similar patients struggling for a proper treatment in kidney-related chronic diseases, letting them know they are not alone.

Buy the book from Amazon and other online retail stores.

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