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Chrysalis
Encapsulated in a body that could not move. Caught in a cast from my hips to the top of my head, situated in a CircOlectric bed that kept everything suspended and safe. The only thing that worked was a now-injured brain that was incessantly active and asking more of my body than it could handle. I lived, fought, and won my life back with the support of a large cast of helpers. I am the fortunate recipient of those extraordinary efforts. Visiting hours are now open; please accept my invitation to stop by.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2022
About the author
Anna K. Abbi
4 books7 followersI grew up spending my time on a very large wheat farm in the Kansas Prairie, or with my Grandmother in Topeka. Life was full with friends, school, success, and abuse. My father was a war vet. He returned from the war grappling with PTSD, and raised hell for our family. This ended badly! At age 17 I set out for California on my own, my life corrected and I found success in jobs and relationships. At the age of 24 I became a quadriplegic for 63 days, after breaking my neck in a car accident. By some miracle, my body recovered, and I walked away. I then moved to Santa Barbra where I started three businesses, Earned my living, purchased homes, cars, and and lived a life I feel proud to have experienced. I moved to Vermont for the allure of cleaner air, and a slower life style about thirty years later. I still visit my Santa Barbra home for three or four months every year to see old friends. I have managed, despite all, a 20 year loving life in a relationship. I have two Rhodesian ridge-back, girl dogs, and a fifty year old parrot that I hand raised from just a chick. I am a happy, healthy, productive human, living life exactly as I please and loving it!
About five years ago I decided to start writing books. I have now completed three books, two of which are published, one in the wings. I like to think of myself as an unconventional author. I like to break the norm. My writings range from Mysteries or True stories, to Comedies and even Children's books.
About five years ago I decided to start writing books. I have now completed three books, two of which are published, one in the wings. I like to think of myself as an unconventional author. I like to break the norm. My writings range from Mysteries or True stories, to Comedies and even Children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 1, 2023
I received a copy of CHRYSALIS by Anna K. Abbi in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the author and Goodreads for a digital copy!
In CHRYSALIS, Abbi tells the story of how she survived a horrible car accident back in the 1960s, thanks to the diligence of her medical team and her own courage and strength. What makes this manuscript surprising and fascinating is how Abbi weaves throughout this story of survival, the desires and motivations of a bisexual woman who's been completely immobilized by her condition.
The narrative moves between past and present, sharing numerous conflicts that faced Abbi during her long recovery, from loss of employment and employability, to loss of income and assets, to the terrifying anticipation of profound medical debt and the complications of being in a full-body cast. But none of these conflicts play out in an expected way. Because of this, the memoir is entertaining, and I was on the edge of my seat!
Rating: 🩼🩼🩼🩼.5 / 5 broken bones
Recommend? Absolutely!
Finished: March 29 2023
Read this if you like:
🗣 Memoir
🩺 Medical thrillers
❤️🩹 Recovery stories
🌤 Second chances
In CHRYSALIS, Abbi tells the story of how she survived a horrible car accident back in the 1960s, thanks to the diligence of her medical team and her own courage and strength. What makes this manuscript surprising and fascinating is how Abbi weaves throughout this story of survival, the desires and motivations of a bisexual woman who's been completely immobilized by her condition.
The narrative moves between past and present, sharing numerous conflicts that faced Abbi during her long recovery, from loss of employment and employability, to loss of income and assets, to the terrifying anticipation of profound medical debt and the complications of being in a full-body cast. But none of these conflicts play out in an expected way. Because of this, the memoir is entertaining, and I was on the edge of my seat!
Rating: 🩼🩼🩼🩼.5 / 5 broken bones
Recommend? Absolutely!
Finished: March 29 2023
Read this if you like:
🗣 Memoir
🩺 Medical thrillers
❤️🩹 Recovery stories
🌤 Second chances
January 15, 2023
After a car accident the author finds herself in a hospital bed with serious injuries and the possibility of being a quadriplegic for the rest of her short life. The accident is in 1963 and … spoiler alert … the book description talking about winning her life back and her biography mentioning her stained glass art would seem to imply that she was eventually able to move to some degree and has obviously had a long life. However, this tale of what it took to get there, both on the part of the author and from those around her, is an incredible, uplifting story.
With the majority of the story taking place in the early 60s, I found it interesting to remember or realize how things were different then. Anna, the author, is a member of the LGBTQ community, and had several gay men as roommates. They kept things interesting when they’d come to visit her in the hospital. This also complicated her life in ways that it might not today, certainly not as much. I also noticed myself spotting things like when one of the hospital workers mentioned a health issue another worker had. This was an obvious HIPAA violation, but then it hit me that the law establishing HIPAA, preventing health professionals from telling others with no need to know about your personal health issues wasn’t going to be law for 30 more years. The world has changed a ton in the almost 50 years since Anna experienced this and, in many ways, it makes the story that much more incredible and uplifting. A fantastic read and incredible story.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
With the majority of the story taking place in the early 60s, I found it interesting to remember or realize how things were different then. Anna, the author, is a member of the LGBTQ community, and had several gay men as roommates. They kept things interesting when they’d come to visit her in the hospital. This also complicated her life in ways that it might not today, certainly not as much. I also noticed myself spotting things like when one of the hospital workers mentioned a health issue another worker had. This was an obvious HIPAA violation, but then it hit me that the law establishing HIPAA, preventing health professionals from telling others with no need to know about your personal health issues wasn’t going to be law for 30 more years. The world has changed a ton in the almost 50 years since Anna experienced this and, in many ways, it makes the story that much more incredible and uplifting. A fantastic read and incredible story.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
July 30, 2023
‘Chrysalia’ is a memoir written about Anna and how she never gave up no matter what was thrown at her. Her attitude towards everything and her experience is described and told in her words, letting everyone know that all pain is worth it since it’s a promise of the life that awaits you. As I read along, I noticed that not only do we receive honesty and integrity in Anna’s work, but we also get to come into her heart and feelings, thoughts and everything in between. I appreciated this as it is very hard to be vulnerable and present that to the world in such a way.
The cover design presents a welcoming feeling, and once you sit beginning to read, you truly do not want to put it aside. This is a deeply moving account of everything extraordinary Anna faces but also about love and determination.
You cannot help but get captivated away into her world and sometimes wonder about your own. I predominately liked this fact about her book.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy inspirational memoirs.
The cover design presents a welcoming feeling, and once you sit beginning to read, you truly do not want to put it aside. This is a deeply moving account of everything extraordinary Anna faces but also about love and determination.
You cannot help but get captivated away into her world and sometimes wonder about your own. I predominately liked this fact about her book.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy inspirational memoirs.
June 4, 2023
a helpful story
Having learned again that specialist doctors are their own type of “quirks,” I have “fired” my share of neurologists. Then, I was sent to a neurosurgeon. I’ve cursed him since.
Having learned again that specialist doctors are their own type of “quirks,” I have “fired” my share of neurologists. Then, I was sent to a neurosurgeon. I’ve cursed him since.
August 29, 2023
How do you survive tremendous set backs? Anna K. Abbi details her horrific journey after a debilitating car accident. I can't imagine but glad I read her story. It confirms to me the human body's will to live and change. I highly recommend.
November 10, 2022
Amazing
I can't believe what the author went through after the car accident! It's absolutely amazing that she recovered. It truly was a miracle!
I can't believe what the author went through after the car accident! It's absolutely amazing that she recovered. It truly was a miracle!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews