A beautiful and poignant story of how one moment can turn your life upside down, and the struggles that can be endured. In the Face of Catastrophe reminded me that the human spirit is indominable.

Oh my gosh this book gets you in the feels. Jenn’s story of her stroke and how her road to recovery is ongoing is very raw and inspirational. I cannot imagine what it must be like for her day to day and her family who thought they were going to have to say goodbye. I would have loved a bit more from her boyfriend’s perspective and sister.

Def a must read!

I did not finish this book as the style wasn't for me - I was expecting a more straight-forward memoir, but instead the story of Goldman's stroke and recovery is told from five perspectives. While I understood the impetus to write it in this way, I found it disjointed and sometimes repetitive (rather than describing the incident once, multiple people share how they were notified, what they heard/saw, etc.).

I think I can honestly say this is like no book I've read before.

The book follows Jenn and her family after Jenn suffers from a stroke at just 30. Jenn and her family all add their accounts of the traumatic time and the healing that followed. Some of Jenn's patient notes are also included.

The narrative is woven together seamless and you get incredible insights into both Jenn's struggles and those of her family supporting her.

For some people this will be an incredibly emotional read.

And if you have a family member suffering from a similar condition like I did while reading this, I think this book also gives you the potential to forgive and understand your own struggles just a little better.

This book packs a wallop. It is a compelling oral history by the parents, sister, boyfriend as well as the young woman impacted by a stroke. I could relate to this book on many levels. Her father, David, is a doctor and so feels the need to be the professional fact-based translator on all things medical, even though emotionally, this is his daughter (my father was also a doctor). The mother . Caryn, talks about how difficult it is to hold space for others who are grieving while you are trying to navigate your own emotions (having to console others!). The strain on the parents comes out here because they both feel alone and are experiencing grieving differently. Fortunately, in all of this, Jennifer, is healing and on the road to recovery. Her sister and Jennifer's boyfriend are also there to support her and reading their journal entries was very moving as well. An emotional and important read about health crises and recovery.

Thank you to Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

This book is incredibly powerful and moving. Although I was unable to finish it, this was through no fault of the authors or a lack of trying on my part. It was simply too soon after my own neurological catastrophe to continue. I write this review based on the first quarter of the book, which resonated deeply with my own experiences. The author and her family convey the emotional turmoil and devastation of such an event with vivid detail, capturing the impact on everyone involved. The first chapter alone had me in tears. Despite not completing it, I can say that this book is an evocative and compelling portrayal of resilience in the face of a life-altering ordeal. I highly recommend it to those who wish to gain a new perspective on life and the strength of the human spirit. (Rating 4 stars because I was so moved in the beginning, but was unable to finish. Highly recommend.)

This story delves into the the health issues that can effect anyone at anytime. Pulling inspiration & strength from the author made this book that more enjoyable. My takeaway was to appreciate every up & down in your own life. Ypu never know when you or your family will be tasked with the unthinkable.

This is an intense emotional and inspiring book. The discussion of Jenn’s time in the NICU reminded me of the stress and uncertainty when my wife was in the NICU with uncontrolled seizures. What we experienced was not as traumatic or difficult as Jenn and her family, but I can relate to the fear and uncertainty.

Not surprisingly, Jenn and her family struggled to deal with the aftermath of her stroke and the slow recovery (which is still ongoing). However, as Jenn started to experience more obvious improvement, her attitude and optimism increased significantly, which is pretty impressive. In her situation, I don’t think I could have developed and maintained her positivity. Which is not to say that she was always optimistic; she still had (and has) her doubts and struggles.

For a story that deals with such a traumatic experience, there are some pretty humorous moments, including the fraudulent psychic and Jenn using the middle finger to express herself in the hospital when unable to speak.

BOOK: In the Face of Catastrophe: How a Traumatic Brain Injury Became a Blessing (ARC)
AUTHOR: Jennifer Rose Goldman
PUB DATE: by Greenleaf Book Group
PAGES: 194
RATING: 5
GENRE: Non-fiction/Memoir

A BIG Thank You to @netgalley, @greenleafbookgr, and the author for gifting me an advanced digital excerpt in exchange for my honest review!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I am also reminded that our power, as humans, lies not in our ability to control what happens but in our ability to respond to the things that happen to us. We have the power to be optimistic, take each day as it comes, and try to be grateful for the other gifts we have in life.”

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: I had seen another booksta friend read this arc and it intrigued me after seeing her review. This is a poignant story of what happens when you’re faced with the unexpected. I can’t recommend this highly enough. It is so special in that it’s told through the memories of Jenn’s mom, dad, and sister, so their truthful recollections & vulnerability to share what they went through during such a delicate time was so appreciated. I was moved by all the positive affirmations. Don’t sleep on this one!

#NetGalley #GreenleafBookGroup #InTheFaceOfCatastrophe #JenniferRoseGoldman #JenniferGoldman

"In the Face of Catastrophe," by Jennifer Rose Goldman and her mother, Caryn Meg Hirshleifer, is an account of Jenn's terrifying health emergency and its aftermath. Shortly before her thirty-first birthday, she collapsed and was rushed to North Shore University Hospital. She had suffered a stroke that left her comatose and near death. Her dad, David, a physician; her mother, Caryn, an attorney and entrepreneur; and her younger sister, Amanda, stood vigil for countless hours, and when Jenn woke up, they cheered her on.

In addition to Jenn, this book is told by alternating narrators, each of whom expresses his or her fear, sadness, and frustration at watching the woman they adore endure so much agony. They feared that, even if Jenn were to survive, she would be permanently impaired, both physically and mentally. Fortunately for Jenn, a large team of medical professionals worked tirelessly to save her, and over the next year, she fought hard to regain as much cognition and mobility as possible.

This moving true story reminds us that each day of good health is a tremendous blessing, and that a gravely ill person facing a grueling uphill battle can accomplish so much more if she has devoted family members and friends by her side. Jennifer and her loved ones are immensely grateful that she survived this terrifying ordeal, and they hope that "In the Face of Catastrophe" will be a source of hope and encouragement for others who face what appear to be insurmountable obstacles.

In the Face of Catastrophe* by Jennifer Rose Goldman and Caryn Meg Hirshleifer is an incredibly powerful and moving account of resilience, love, and the strength of the human spirit.

This book chronicles the unimaginable journey of Jennifer, a vibrant young woman whose life takes a sudden, unexpected turn when she suffers a stroke. Through a series of journal entries from her mother, father, sister, and Jennifer herself, we witness the raw emotions, struggles, and victories of a family united in the face of adversity.

What struck me most was the depth of vulnerability shared by each family member, especially Jennifer’s sister, Amanda, who battles her own challenges while supporting her sister. The honesty in these pages is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

In the Face of Catastrophe isn’t just a story about survival; it’s a testament to the power of love, family, and the unbreakable will to keep fighting. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a deeply emotional, real-life story that stays with you long after the last page.

This was an interesting look into a woman’s experience of her stroke recovery. She was very young to have a stroke (in her thirties), however, it also showed that with the support of family and her partner how it affected each of them throughout the ordeal.

Truly an inspirational book and an amazing family to go through this together and become so much stronger.

Wow- what a story that this family is still living into in 2024! I was curious about the book because of brain injury in my family, but the two have played out very differently. It was both gut wrenching and heartwarming at times to read how Jenn and her family dealt with such a life changing event. I appreciate the realness with which they shared the story-I imagine that many people/families who go through a similar health trauma will find healing in this insightful and honest contribution

Thank you to Net Galley for giving me a copy to read and review. Having been through my own and my daughter’s traumatic brain injury so much was relevant to our story. Hearing that your child, no matter how old, is severely injured or trying to survive a stroke is a complete shock. We are left numb. Mothers try to heal their families first before focusing on their health.

Reading about Jenn’s recovery as told by her family and then through her own words was powerful. Reading about doctor visits and the bluntness of some projections was heartbreaking. I wish Jenn and her family continued healing. Keep moving forward and enjoy all the special times you have in the future.

“In the Face of Catastrophe” is written and voiced by Jennifer Rose Goldman and her mom Caryn Meg Hirshleifer. Jennifer’s dad David (a physician), her sister Amanda (who has psychological and physical issues of her own), and her boyfriend Misha also share their feelings, thoughts and insights after Jenn’s tragic stroke and brain bleed. This brain injury has left her incapacitated at a young 30 years of age. The story is told in the form of a journal narrative that takes us through a year long recovery. We have a glimpse at Jenn regaining some semblance of normal life following that first year. I would love to see a follow up as she continues to regain strength and functions.

The family is completely committed and resilient following this devastating event. All remarkably honest and raw as they share the innermost thoughts and feelings. The emotional strain and strength it took to assist Jenn in her recovery is applaudable. It’s powerful how they all championed together to get Jenn to the finish line.

Having gone through a 2 year battle with cancer with my husband I could empathize with each of them. Entering the world of the sick is like waking on another planet. Acronyms abound, CT scan, MRI, PT, and so many others that you’ve never heard of until a loved one gets sick. I was so glad her dad had the benefit of being a physician and was able to sort through the murky waters for them and give them best case scenarios. They each had a very important role to play and can be credited for much of her recovery to date.

May she continue to gain strength and return to living her best life truly awakened to the blessing she’s been given.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the authors and publisher Green Leaf Book Press for an advanced readers copy of this book.

This is the story of 31-year-old Jenn’s catastrophic stroke and lengthy recovery. The story is told as a series of diary entries from Jenn, her mother, her father, her sister, and her boyfriend, as well as snippets of her medical records. I found the first part of the book very compelling when Jenn is in critical condition and things are changing quickly. The later portion of the book covering more than a year of her recovery was still interesting, but less compelling. There’s a lot of emotional sharing and discussion of spiritual beliefs and practices that I’m sure were very important to the family but were not as interesting to me.

This family went through a series of terrible traumas in a fairly short period of time, and I admired the way they worked together to recover. However, they also seem very privileged in their financial resources and access to good health care, rehabilitation services, and long-term in-home care.

This book is most likely to appeal to fans of memoirs, medical recovery stories, and stories of personal and familial resilience.

Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with a free review copy through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Incredible story.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

The Gift of Presence when a violent stroke and a significant brain bleed leaves Jenn comatose and clinging to life just days before her thirty-first birthday. Starting from the day Jenn suffered a stroke while at work, this is a true story of survival after an unexpected injury, a story of family support and the commitment needed both mentally and physically to recover. Spending 11 weeks in the NICU (Neurological Intensive Care Unit) and rehab, Jenn and her family face an overwhelming and painful journey as they struggle to grasp what’s happened. A memorable, multi-perspective memoir Jennifer Rose Goldman and her mom, Caryn Meg Hirshleifer, have written this powerful, poignant, and raw page-turner, structured like a diary comprised of entries: each person’s point of view and how they felt during and endured each stage, journaled by Caryn, David (dad), Amanda (sister), and eventually Jenn who suffers the stroke while at work. And it continues a year later, detailing what progress and setbacks she has encountered during that time. To move forward and heal, they discover an unexpected how-to-be-present as they grapple with grief and learn gratitude and intentional time together, while holding onto hope through uncertainty and challenging times. Jenn was already a motivational speaker and professional advocate for welllness and self-care before her stroke, and now she and her family share a very personal and intimate time of their lives in the hope that those who are struggling with similar experiences of loss and change will find connection, solace, and the courage to overcome even the greatest of challenges. An enlightening story, what touched me the most was Jenn’s goodbye to the reader, thanking her reader for taking the time to follow her through the process and confusion of sorting memories and relearning basic motor skills and her apology and regret that she now leaves us with loose ends untied as she continues her healing journey without us. In The Face of Catastrophe, easy to read, original, and inspirational, was encouraging and thought provoking, and I’d like to thank NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the #ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group | Greenleaf Book Group Press books for this ARC for review. And thank you, Jenn for sharing your amazing journey with everyone. Imagine being a smart, successful, and independent woman one day and then 3 days before your 31st birthday, you have a massive hemorrhagic stroke due to a unknown malformation in your brain and your family doesn't know if you will live or die. But you do live, only you have partial paralysis in your right side and have to learn to walk and talk again over the course of the next year. This is everything and more that Jennifer Goldman went through in 2021-2022. She weathered it all amazingly and bravely with the support of her family and boyfriend. She and her family have come through this journey with a sense of purpose that many others may not have found.

I received a free copy of, In the Face of Catastrophe, by Jennifer Rose Goldman; Caryn Meg Hirshleifer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thirty year old Jennifer had a stroke, this book is told from her families perspective while she was in the hospital, and rehab, and when she came home. Jenn takes over after she starts recovering at home. An incredible read, about a young stroke victim.