Crash
How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver
by Rachel Michelberg
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Pub Date Apr 27 2021 | Archive Date Nov 30 2021
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Description
Rachel likes to think of herself as a nice Jewish girl, dedicated to doing what’s honorable, just as her parents raised her to do. But when her husband, David, survives a plane crash and is left with severe brain damage, she faces a choice: will she dedicate her life to caring for a man she no longer loves, or walk away?
Their marriage had been rocky at the time of the accident, and though she wants to do the right thing, Rachel doesn’t know how she is supposed to care for two kids in addition to a now irrational, incontinent, and seizure-prone grown man. But then again, what kind of selfish monster would refuse to care for her disabled husband, no matter how unhappy her marriage had been? Rachel wants to believe that she can dedicate her life to David’s needs, but knows in her heart it is impossible.
Crash tackles a pervasive dilemma in our culture: the moral conflicts individuals face when caregiving for a disabled or cognitively impaired family member.
A Note From the Publisher
RACHEL MICHELBERG grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and still enjoys living there with her husband, Richard, and their two dogs, Nala and Beenie. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University and has performed leading roles in musicals and opera from Carmen to My Fair Lady as well as the part of the Mother Abbess (three times!) in The Sound of Music. When Rachel isn’t working with one of her twenty voice and piano students, she loves gardening, hiking, and making her own bone broth. CRASH: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver is her first book.
Advance Praise
WINNER, 2021 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARD IN MEMOIR, PERSONAL STRUGGLE/HEALTH ISSUES
"...an engaging exploration of duty, guilt, and self-preservation. Michelberg is a frank writer.... continually willing to unpack her guilt while also exploring options for her own emotional survival. A cleareyed consideration of difficult ethical and familial choices."
―KIRKUS REVIEWS
“I couldn’t put this book down . . . Rachel Michelberg gives the reader the gift of unfiltered honesty, without excuses or complaints. She shows us how the clarity of a scrupulous heart can guide us through the worst of times. Crash is an important story told by a remarkable storyteller.”
―JOANNE SILVER JONES, author of Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury
“I read this book cover to cover and then finally remembered to breathe. Crash is a profoundly human story told with grace and raw honesty. Michelberg is courageous enough to put all of herself into the pages, and we are all the better for it. Crash will stay with you―in your mind, heart, and gut―for a long time after you finish it.”
―MARK LUKACH, author of My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward
“ . . . a skillfully written, riveting account of Michelberg’s struggle to sustain herself and her family after a tragic event radically alters their lives. As a mother, she is protective, resourceful and competent as she boldly guides her family forward. Vigilant and vulnerable, she exemplifies a woman who speaks her truth, however hard that is to bear. Crash will challenge your own sense of what is important in fighting for a family’s well-being.”
―ANNA PENENBERG, Amazon best-selling author of Dancing in the Narrows: A Mother-Daughter Odyssey Through Chronic Illness
"I was struck by Rachel's honesty and her realness. I think this is the kind of book that a lot of people are going to find heavily relatable."
—BOOK PLEASURES
“A heart wrenching look at the underappreciated caregivers in our lives…. Michelberg’s writing was fantastic…. it’s one memoir that I know I will be thinking about for a long time to come.”
—BOUND 4 ESCAPE blog
“…powerful and heart breaking….I won’t spoil the ending, because this is definitely one that you should read yourself, but I felt such a hopeful and light feeling after reading this. I want to thank Rachel Michelberg for her bravery in sharing this very difficult time in her life and her honesty. I think it could help others in similar situations.”
—TEDDY ROSE BOOK REVIEWS PLUS
“…an intense and emotional book…Rachel was so brutally honest, putting down information without bias or pretense. She said her truth and owned it…”
—READER’S FAVORITE, five stars
Marketing Plan
This title is also available in e-book and audio formats.
This title is also available in e-book and audio formats.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781647420321 |
| PRICE | $16.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 224 |
Average rating from 2 members
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