Becoming Comfortably Numb

Author: Catherine Allard

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As a young mother on maternity leave from her rewarding government agency job, Cathy Allard was immersed in the joys of bonding with her three-month-old daughter. She and her husband, Jean-Pierre, anticipated a bright and exciting future for their precious family. Then, in an instant, it all came crashing down.

At just age 27, Cathy had a stroke.

As she lay in hospital with the right side of her body numb and immobilized, she was gripped by fear, guilt and an expanding feeling of despair. How would she ever be able to properly care for her daughter? Would her disabilities prevent her from ever working again? Were failure and disappointment now her destiny?

In Becoming Comfortably Numb: A Memoir on Brain-Mending, Cathy shares the inspiring story of her decades-long journey to rise above those dark days right after her 1984 stroke and through the setback of a second, more damaging stroke, six years later. As she describes it, her memoir traces her "biggest struggles and greatest triumphs - from sobbing in a wheelchair all the way to climbing the Acropolis."

Motivated by her love of family and determination to be the best mother she could be - and with the help of her husband and daughter, scores of dedicated healthcare professionals, and supportive employers - Cathy charted a path to fulfillment.

Along the way, she learned new ways of managing daily tasks to accommodate being "differently abled," gained knowledge about the brain's incredible ability to 'rewire' itself, and was able to continue her satisfying communications career for many years.

Becoming Comfortably Numb offers inspiration and practical advice for people living with or caring for someone with disabilities or chronic health issues, as well as guidance for all of us seeking to find the determination and resilience to meet and overcome life's challenges.