Tree Barking

This book describes Nesta Rovina's experience as a home health therapist in Contra Costa County, California. It is interwoven with her memories of growing up in South Africa and living in Israel.It provides insight to many of the subcultures in America, and their voices, which are not often heard.

As a home health therapist, Nesta Rovina has seen and heard it all: a stroke victim who learned to roll off her bed at night to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of rival gangs and drug dealers: a man who lived off grass and bugs for a week while fleeing his native Laos; a sixteen year-old gunshot victim who was left for dead by a man targeting prostitutes; a heroin addict who - when her left hand was amputated after becoming infected from frequent injections - began 'popping' on her right hand. In telling their stories, Rovina's own story begins to emerge: her upbringing in South Africa, her family tragedy in Israel, her decision to become a health-care worker. Confronting Amerca's bruised and battered health-care system, she shows compassion and understanding for her housebound clients, many of whom - no matter their circumstances - carry on with faith, humor, and kindness

Nesta Rovina was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. She received a degree from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. Nesta lived in Israel for eleven years, eight of them she lived on Kibbutz Ein Dor situated in the Jezreel Valley. She received a degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Jerusalem.Nesta has lived and worked in the Bay Area of California since 1980. She received her MA from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, California. Nesta has worked in health care since 1992 as a home therapist. She has had essays published locally and in England. Her website is www.nestarovina.com Her book Tree Barking: A memoir was originally published by Heyday Books of Berkeley, California is April, 2008. The cover design is attributed to Lorraine Rath of Heyday Books.