Alexandria, VA – Challenging Topic Seen Through an Innocent Lens
Review: Everybody Here Has a Sick Foot
Publisher: Author House
Author: George Vercessi
Illustrations: Hatidza Mulic
Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor
Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes
Everybody Here Has a Sick Foot tackles a very sensitive, deeply personal, and difficult issue: illness striking a parent. George Vercessi’s book excels as a teaching tool and a heartwarming family story. In easily understood words, he explains to adults and children about illness, patience, the hard road to recovery, and the importance of family support. I asked the author about his inspiration and how personal experience influenced his story. Vercessi commented, “I was an adult when my late mother suffered an unexpected stroke, but that didn’t lessen the confusion and anxiety I felt. I hadn’t known anyone who had suffered a stroke, and certainly knew nothing of its effects on the body or the recovery period and what it entailed. We were a close-knit family: my mother and her two sisters. We were suddenly in uncharted waters, not knowing who to turn to for help nor what to expect of ourselves and others around us.” Strokes and the subsequent recovery, or enfeebling illness, challenge a family. For minor children, the emotional trauma compounds. Children often feel scared, confused, and helpless. Vercessi addresses this in a way that lessens the uncertainty and apprehension associated with debilitating afflictions.
In this story, 11-year-old Jamie Roberts finds his mother incapacitated while his father and younger brother are away. Jamie has the presence of mind to call 911. His mother was rushed to the hospital. Anxiety builds for Jamie; thankfully, he is comforted by a neighbor. While the family waits for news, Jamie’s father explains that their mother suffered a stroke, or a “brain attack.” Medical terminology is frightening to children. Vercessi demonstrates how to soften children’s anxiety through positive reassurance. When Jamie’s mother returns home, the family confronts a new frustration recovery. Vercessi said, “Despite her grit and determination to do all her medical team required of her, each day brought new and often difficult challenges for us to cope with. It was for that reason that I decided to write the book. If I, as an adult, was having difficulty navigating the aftermath of my mother’s stroke, how challenging might it be for young family members to grasp the significance of their role during the long recovery period?”
Jamie’s mother’s doctor explains recovery is long and that she may never fully recover speech and movement. Jamie and his brother are eager but feel helpless when her progress is inconsistent. The mother experiences mood swings, periods of silence, and the brutal reality of a less than full recovery. The story turns hopeful when two stroke survivors visit the family, offering practical advice and emotional support. Jamie’s mother fully regains her speech and independent mobility.
George Vercessi, a Bronx native, has a BA in Political Science from La Salle University and an MA in Mass Communications from San Diego State University. Vercessi served 27 years in the US Navy, and received the prestigious Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil Award. He’s authored six novels, an author publishing guide, and a children’s Christmas tale. He’s active in several associations, including the National Press Club, the Virginia Writers Club, and the US Navy Public Affairs.
Vercessi delivers tough advice with brilliantly brief words for easing the initial shock of a parent’s medical event and the importance of children’s roles in the recovery process. Mulic’s illustrations complement the narrative, using softer optics, for example, when depicting hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Solidly 5 Zebra Stripes.
Elaine’s Literary Salon: September 2026
9/2, Wednesday, 6-9 p.m., Matthew Lavoie (Main Street Fringe)
9/6, Sunday, 12-3 p.m., Wolf Bahren (The Secessionist’s Wife)
9/10, Thursday, 6-9 p.m., Monthly Wine Dinner (Tour of Italy with James Kutemeyer of Lanterna Distributors)
9/17, Thursday, 6-9 p.m., Michelle Cullen (The Field Guide to Murder)
9/26, Saturday, 12-3 p.m., Kathleen Corcoran (Northern Notes)
9/27, Sunday, 12-3 p.m., Tanya Stokes (The Woman I’m Becoming)
9/24, Thursday, 6-9 p.m., Elaine’s Writers Club (Monthly Write-In)
9/30, 6-9 p.m., Monthly Happy Hour for Writers (Join us at the bar at Elaine’s)
