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Two weeks after her son Jeff’s eighteenth birthday, the author boarded a plane.  A flight attendant called her name and said, “There’s been an accident.” Upon arrival at the hospital she learned Jeff was in a coma with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

In this riveting memoir, Dr. Janis Ruoff tells her story in this profound, tragic and yet oddly hilarious family journey from trauma to recovery and a new life. Readers will be moved to tears and laughter!

The book is told from the perspective of the author but is also peppered with wisdom and personal reflections by Jeff such as:

“About my TBI, imagine that there is a person with a GIANT paintbrush who follows me through life. EVERY time I have an experience this person waits until it is over and quickly paints over it.”

The author’s professional experience before and after Jeff’s TBI adds a unique and informative perspective to the story as she goes on to become a university professor and leader in the brain injury advocacy movement.