| Summary: |
"Four weeks of a global pandemic. Three words. Two sisters. One behind-the-scenes story of it all. A unique lens onto a crisis that has gripped the world for months now, and into the private life and decision-making process of a Canadian woman who has emerged as an international figure both for her humanity in the face of suffering, and her acumen and decisiveness as her policies succeeded where so many others failed. It is the behind-the-scenes story of the four key weeks during which BC's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Bonnie Henry, 'flattened the curve' through a consistent, calm, empathetic, science-based and well-articulated public health strategy. The public train of events is now well-known; what has not yet been documented is the rich background as well as the private deliberation that led to the public decisions and actions. Coincidentally, Dr Henry's sister, Lynn Henry, arrived for a long-planned visit on March 12, 2020. For the four ensuing weeks, Lynn had a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the personal and political whirlwind of this time, with its moments of agony and gravity as well as its occasional episodes of levity and grace. Nothing comes without a cost. While the world was horrified by the realities of triage in the face of scarce medical resources, Bonnie Henry dealt with those questions on a society-wide scale. For the curve to flatten, some would inevitably suffer. The homeless, the newly-unemployed, the mentally ill, the families trapped in violent relationships or other unsustainable circumstances. Any decision that would benefit millions could place intolerable burdens on thousands. In other words, policy decisions in a crisis are inevitably ethical and philosophical questions. Both a global story and a family story, this tale combines Lynn's observations and knowledge of Bonnie's personal and professional background with Bonnie's recollections of how and why decisions were made, to tell in a vivid way the fully-rounded dramatic tale of these four weeks that made all the difference to millions of people. This is a book about communication, leadership and public trust; about the balance between politics and policy; and about, at heart, what and who we value, as individuals and a society."-- |
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