Unthinkable: A Mother's Tragedy, Terror, and Triumph Through A Child's Traumatic Brain Injury [Paperback]

Dixie Coskie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2010 | ISBN-10: 1932279377 | ISBN-13: 978-1932279375

First shocked with horror and despair after her son's traumatic brain injury, Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie and her family grow to find hope, healing, and even greater love. Dixie's narrative of how she came to appreciate the simplest of things-when her son is able to blink his eyelids, lift his finger, utter a word-is powerfully moving. It will bring you into a realm where body, mind, and spirit are pushed to their limits. UNTHINKABLE is about perseverance, filled with universal lessons of struggle and triumph. Dixie follows each chapter of the harrowing journey with vital insights to assist others through their tragedies. A Companion for Caregivers - Powerful tips and tools to help any parent faced with a child's traumatic injury or illness.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Screen legend Patricia Neal endorses UNTHINKABLE...

"I am someone who does not just believe in miracles, I depend on them. Miracles come in many forms. Some come at the speed of a lightning bolt... body healed... a life saved. But most miracles come about because of incredible hard work and determination, not only by the injured person fighting for his or her way back, but also by the often unsung heroes who do the world of the angels here on earth.

One of these angels is Dixie Fremont-Coskie, who has written UNTHINKABLE. The book not only tells the remarkable story of her son Paul's continuing recovery from a terrible cycling accident, she has also outlined her insights and experiences as a caregiver in the form of a practical handbook to help others who may face similar challenges. I highly recommend this book. As a woman who has had one of my own children triumph over a traumatic brain injury, I salute the author's courage, faith, and most of all love."

~ Patricia Neal, February 2010

From the Author

Book Review by Lorna d'Entremont, Special Needs Book Reviews

Unthinkable by Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie is an open book to a mom's heart.  The author lets us in her most private thoughts; we feel her fear, her anger, and her interior struggle with God's will about life or death. Above all we learn valuable lessons we can store to bring out when our lives are shattered. The reader should never take life for granted after reading Unthinkable.  The accident is not the story, the aftermath to it is. And what a story!

This amazing story of survival starts with Dixie's 13 year old son's traumatic brain injury (TBI) when he was involved in a car accident while riding his bike; he was not wearing a bike helmet. Feeling helpless and powerless, Paul's parents sit in shifts next to their comatose child. Their hearts are divided and shattered, as they try to keep their home life stable and have one parent around the clock at their son's bedside. Parents going through hardships and coping with the various emotions this brings will be able to relate to how Dixie felt.  Parents, caregivers, friends and Health Care professionals, read this book and its valuable lessons of love, family, and perseverance will stay with you.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing (January 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932279377
• ISBN-13: 978-1932279375
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Angela H. Sweeny MD, Emergency Physician October 29, 2009

By Angela H. Sweeny

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A must read for physicians and medical providers, to truly see what a mother and family endure through a terrible accident. See how they cope in the ED, the ICU, the rehab - all the while tending to their boy, hoping he will get better. It is a story of healing through the power of love of one family as spoken through the heart of a mother. Often a difficult story to read secondary to the sheer force of its emotional magnitude, but READ IT YOU MUST, for it will make you THINK as it made me think. How prepared am I to deal with one of life's unimaginable challenges, and how would I cope in the face of an extreme personal tragedy? Certainly, Dixie's tips at the end of each chapter are the critical and rational steps to follow when a person doesn't know how they will cope on a day to day, month to month basis, facing a protracted and exhausting medical crisis. These are the practical, priceless tips of a women who writes from experience. She and her family went through it - learn from them, read her story, and you will understand the depths of human strength, hope and love.....a mother's brilliant love for a son whose story is now forever immortalized in her written words.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read! September 17, 2009

By D. Boland

Format:Paperback

This is an amazing read; a harrowing journey through a mothers worst nightmare. I highly recommend this book for anyone. It is for family and friends who have experienced the traumatic medical emergency of a loved one but also for those who just want to gain a better appreciation for a mother's love and the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Having shared in this unthinkable experience October 18, 2009

By Tracy Porter

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having shared this unthinkable injury and journey of recovery with my own 16 year old son just 5 years ago, Dixie's words-her deeply written emotion, instantly pulled me back to those heart wrenching first days and weeks. I didn't know I needed to go back to those feelings to finally let go of the pain and unrelenting questioning of faith until I read her book. The way she so delicately weaves her own experience into the readers consciousness all the while guiding you through the experience with tips at every chapters end was just beautifully done. She clearly reveals what every mother fears when her child is injured. She lovingly gives us back our questioning faith and gives permission for us to go outside and scream the primal scream of WHY???? Having felt those very same feelings but unable to put them in words, I felt a deep connection to Dixie and a very real need to reach in to the pages and hug her, comfort her,tell her there is hope, hang on, stay with it,you will get through this.
I must say I was not prepared for the last few chapters but needed to again reach through the pages to give everyone in this very brave, strong, faithful family a huge hug. I hope to do that by including this book in my Tote Bags of Comfort & Hope provided to all families in Florida experiencing a Traumatic Brain Injury with a loved one through 23 participating Trauma Centers. [...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing October 3, 2009

By Susan L. Hamblen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

As I read this book, I was amazed at two things; one, the emotion and pain with which Dixie wrote the book, purely from the heart, and with no holds barred for her honest experience. It was very powerful - she said what most people think but would never share!!
Her "tips" after each chapter is going to be so welcome by people who are dealing with some of the same issues - as with most of us parents, when something happens to your child you crave information about what other people have experienced to help you deal with the situation. I have to believe that folks who have kids with severe injuries like Paul would be thrilled to have this book by their side to help them through the difficulties.
Dixie is obviously a very amazing person, as is her husband Steven, and all her children.
But most amazing is Paul - I can't get over his constant drive to beat the odds and to work hard to regain his life back - it's a trait that everyone should be very proud of and that we all wish for our children and ourselves!
Once you start this book, you can't put it down!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unthinkable: A Mother's Tragedy, Terror, and Triumph Through A Child's Traumatic Brain Injury October 22, 2009

By Cheryl A. Dean

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Absolutely amazing and insightful! I know the family, my children grew up with the Coskie children. My daughter Jessica was great friends with Paul in school. Just being a part ofthe community and watching the poise and determination of this mother , child and family first had was a amazing! Unfortunately all this hit too closeto home for me as my daughter Jessica was involved in a head-on collision this past May and I also know the first hand affects of having a child who barely cheated death and now has a a brain injury. Luckily Jessica is moving along well thanks to the team of doctors at Scott & White Trauma ICU in Temple Texas. My heart goes out to all who have had to deal with this type of incident and the Coskie family is truly inspiring!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unbelievable Journey October 5, 2009

By A Huge Fan of the Coskie Family

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dixie's story is one that is painfully raw with emotion. Yet,at the same time, the journey is blended with hope, and complete faith that Paul would survive the horrific accident. Dixie allows you to see into what life is like not only for the TBI patient, but for the family as well. The complete bond and faith of the Coskie family is evident and has provided them with the support needed to help Paul and the family heal.

The book offers helpful tips for anyone dealing with a TBI.