Customer Reviews

Conquering the Darkness : One Woman's Story of Recovering from a Brain Injury

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a book of incredible struggle and hope for survival with seemingly hopeless occurences. Time after time Quinn is attacked by life's fate and yet she not only walks through its doors, she guides us as we journey with her. Even after a Cinderella Wedding (I know, I produced it!), her marriage almost falls into shatters. After a short period she and her husband are reunited. Then, after only two weeks a fatal car accident takes his life and puts Quinn into the hospital with severe head injuries. An employee embazzels thousands which costs Debbie millions in attorney and related costs. The mother-in-law sues her for personal belongings of her husband's. A franchise is snapped from her ownership. Doctors are many and become almost an extended family. Attorneys, accountants, physicians....what a hell!! Each time as a door slams shut, she faces it and opens the way to survive another day. This is a story of survival. When you feel sorry for yourself, read just a few pages. You might not be able to handle an entire chapter at one sitting. The Biblical Job's life pales in comparison.

I am a brain injury surviver just like Deborah is. I was in an automobile accident in January of 1998, but my injuries weren't as bad as Deborah's and my recovery time was much less. I thought the description of the legal battles was too long and boring, but the emotional aspects kept my interest. I sat crying while reading this, remembering my similar experiences and pain. This book is great for anyone who has suffered from a brain injury and also for their family members. I would definitely recommend this!

I hope my wife can over come her brain injury as well as Debbie. She also has a brain injury. Debbie's book has given me a better understanding of what my wife is going through. Thanks Debbie. May you continue to do well with your recovery and book I think it will help people understand brain injury better.

It has been very hard not being able to do the things I have done for myself all my life and Debbie has given me the courage to keep trying. I have given this book to several people in my family and a few good friends to help them understand that when I say I do not remember things it's not a cop out but I can't remember. And that although I use to be able to do many things at one time, now I get lost if I try to do more then one thing at a time. I just want to say THANK YOU Debbie this book will help a lot of people like me.

Through fate I was elected to type Debbie's story and became a friend during the months that I worked with her. She is one of the bravest and strongest women I know. What she suffered as a result of her accident is not to be believed. Not only was she devastated by her physical condition - she was a target for one of the meanest women that ever lived - her mother-in-law. She was trusting and became the target for business partners who were not honest. I lost touch with Debbie and was thrilled to learn that her story had been published. She has fought back from many setbacks and has come out ahead every time in spite of the many obstacles placed in her way. I am so proud of her. GO DEBBIE.

My mother suffered a brain injury when the family house burned down and my father and brother died. She was left in a coma. We are grateful to still have her but some times it has been hard. this book had helped us understand better. Thanks for your book.

I have a sister with a brain injury and this book helped me understand some of what she must be going through. I think she was very brave to share her soul to help other people. I think if you have a family member or a friend with a brain injury this book with help you understand a little better of what they are going through.

What appears to be a one more "soap opera" story about the woman born to privledge , and money turns into the insipring story of the fight of human spirit. Spirit of life and its power to get us through the hell and back- better, stronger, smarter.It makes you revive the myth of "bad luck" and struggle. After you think about the book you realize how destiny always leads us into the better future, even if it not appears like that. Underlying theme of this interesting book is the issue of ethics. Quinn does not prey and try to scare you, rather tell you it is the moment to wake up and start to look around how badly our society is wounded, how greed lack of ethical standards deminishes our own distinction-the humanity. Read it, live it, teach it.

When I first bought this book, I thought I would never be able to finish it until I read the introduction and I couldn't put it down. I passed it on to my sister. Debbie's story is heartbreaking and her recovery miraculas. I can't wait for Ms. Quinn's next book.

Deborah Quinn details a nightmare of personal, financial, legal and medical entanglements. Her story is one relatively few brain injury victims experience. The lifestyle she describes is an exclusive one and the rehabilitation resouces available to her are not generally accessible to any but the very well funded.

She reveals strategies and priorities of the legal and insurance world in an interesting way as well as her means of arriving at decisions during the process.

Many survivors do not reach the level of insurance disputes or legal representation she generated because they are not as lucrative a subject as Ms. Quinn. This does not diminish the anguish she endured, her sense of loss or the difficulty of her journey. That is a part of each person's recovery and no amount of money can spare that.