Bill Gasiamis, a stroke survivor and the podcast host of A Stroke Caregiver's Journey talked about what it means to be a caregiver. He shared his story with me and I shared mine with him. We talked about being overly stressed and overly busy through the lenses of a caregiver and a survivor. We discussed recovery after brain injury and the complications and joys it brings. We spoke about taking a new fork in the road and accepting a new normal. But most importantly, we agreed that laughter is crucial to a more calm recovery––in fact, it may be the key to happiness after brain injury. So, Folks, start laughing like there's no tomorrow.
                     GiGgLE!
                                        ChOrTLe! 
                                                                sNiCkER!
                                                                                       TeE-hEe!
                                                                                                              HoOT       &       HOwL  ...

                                                                                                                     With LAUGHTER!
PS. You'll LOVE Bill's Down Under Australian accent.

Check out Recovery After Stroke by Bill Gasiamis.

     John Daly, author of action/thriller books and Boutique of Quality Books/WriteLife consultant, interviewed me about my book, Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale. I told John that Prisoners will make readers Laugh! Cry! and G-A-S-P!. How do I know? Because I laughed, cried, and gasped! during the many years it took me to write the story.

     So when you read my book, Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale, and you Laugh! Cry! or G-A-S-P!, please let me know. You can leave a comment below or send an email to me at donnaodonnellfigurski@gmail.com.

Of course, when you read my book, please write an honest review. My book and I will each appreciate your efforts.

CLICK Here!
Prisoners Amazon US Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Prisoners (print) Barnes and Noble Paperback, eBook

Prisoners (print) IndieBound

Prisoners (eBook) Kobo

A review is a book's best friend. "Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale" will make readers Laugh! Cry! and G-A-S-P!

Did you know that a book review doesn't have to be long? You aren't in school anymore. The teacher is not assigning a review of the class chosen book. He/She is not requiring that you write a 1,000 word essay on the book.

Here are a few samples from reviews of my book, "Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale." (Many are only partials. You can go to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or Goodreads to read more than a 100 reviews. "Prisoners Without Bars: A Caregiver's Tale"  Oh, and while you are there, please leave your review, so that other readers can read yours.

A Kindle Customer wrote:

I enjoyed this book because the author was very honest in describing her journey taking care of her husband who had a brain bleed and her life was never the same or his.

An Amazon Customer wrote:

I loved this book. almost couldn't put it down. the love and dedication of the wife is incredible. I have to give her kudos. much like caring for a person with dementia - not easy. highly recommended.

Rinda wrote:

What a story! I was hooked from the preface.

jlgwriter wrote:

This is a deeply moving story about a family's experience with traumatic brain injury. I found the story powerful and compelling,

Bob Millsap wrote:

I recommend this book for anyone that is a caregiver or is close to somebody that is.

Barnes and Noble Reviewer wrote:

Donna writes a very compelling story of her (and her husband David's) 13 years of pain, suffereing, and frustatrations dealing with TBI.

A Rutgers School of Medicine Professor wrote:

The book details the events that occurred when an articulate, vibrant microbiologist at Columbia University suddenly suffers a traumatic brain injury.

Goodreads Reviewer, Kiersten wrote:

Phenomenal story of love, determination and an acceptance of a new life.

Goodreads Reviewer, Connie G. wrote:

Very moving account of how life can change overnight, and the struggles to get the proper care.

Kobo Reviewer wrote:

An amazing story of Love and Hope I could not believe the faith and strength of the author.

THIS SPOT is FOR YOU! Go Ahead. WRITE A REVIEW!

Fragly Can't Croak

by

Donna O'Donnell Figurski


“Croook!” I want to croak like other frogs? thought Fragly.
 
But “Croook!” was all Fragly could say.  
 
“I’ll never be a normal frog,” she thought.
 
While the frogs played in the pond,
 
in reeds,
 
under leaves,
 
Fragly sat alone on her lily pad.
 
No one noticed her.
 
While the frogs croaked,
 
beeped,
 
and trilled,
 
Fragly sat alone on her lily pad.
 
No one noticed her.
 
Fragly’s eyes bulged,
 
her tongue thwipped.
 
She waved her front limbs frantically.
 
The log moved closer.
 
But the frogs played on.
 
They never noticed Fragly … or the log.
 
When Fragly bulged her eyes and “Croooked!
 
When she thwipped her tongue and “Croooked!
 
And frantically waved her limbs and “Croooked!  
 
The frogs saw the moving log getting closer and closer.
 
 They began to Croook too  …
                                                                                                                      
… until the log swam right out of their bog.
 
Hooray for Fragly!
 
No one ever ignored Fragly again.