Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver

(Paperback)

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. . . an engaging exploration of duty, guilt, and self-preservation. . . . A cleareyed consideration of difficult ethical and familial choices.
KIRKUS REVIEWS

Rachel likes to think of herself as a nice Jewish girl, dedicated to doing whats honorable, just as her parents raised her to do. But when her husband, David, survives a plane crash and is left with severe brain damage, she faces a choice: will she dedicate her life to caring for a man she no longer loves, or walk away

Their marriage had been rocky at the time of the accident, and though she wants to do the right thing, Rachel doesnt know how she is supposed to care for two kids in addition to a now irrational, incontinent, and seizure-prone grown man. And how will she manage to see her lover But then again, what kind of selfish monster would refuse to care for her disabled husband, no matter how unhappy her marriage had been Rachel wants to believe that she can dedicate her life to Davids needs, but knows in her heart it is impossible.

Crash tackles a pervasive dilemma in our culture: the moral conflicts individuals face when caregiving for a disabled or cognitively impaired family member.

Reviews

2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner Memoirs (Personal Struggle/Health Issues)

2021 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention in Non-Fiction: Memoir

2022 Book Excellence Awards Winner in Caregiving

. . . an engaging exploration of duty, guilt, and self-preservation. Michelberg is a frank writer. . . . continually willing to unpack her guilt while also exploring options for her own emotional survival. A cleareyed consideration of difficult ethical and familial choices.
KIRKUS REVIEWS

I couldnt put this book down . . . Rachel Michelberg gives the reader the gift of unfiltered honesty, without excuses or complaints. She shows us how the clarity of a scrupulous heart can guide us through the worst of times. Crash is an important story told by a remarkable story teller.
JOANNE SILVER JONES, author of Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury

I read this book cover to cover and then finally remembered to breathe. Crash is a profoundly human story told with grace and raw honesty. Michelberg is courageous enough to put all of herself into the pages, and we are all the better for it. Crash will stay with youin your mind, heart, and gutfor a long time after you finish it.
MARK LUKACH, author of My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward

Crash is a skillfully written, riveting account of Michelbergs struggle to sustain herself and her family after a tragic event radically alters their lives. As a mother, she is protective, resourceful and competent as she boldly guides her family forward. Vigilant and vulnerable, she exemplifies a woman who speaks her truth, however hard that is to bear. Crash will challenge your own sense of what is important in fighting for a familys well-being.
Anna Penenberg, Amazon best-selling author of Dancing in the Narrows: A Mother-Daughter Odyssey Through Chronic Illness

Author Bio

Rachel Michelberg grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and still enjoys living there with her husband, Richard, and their two dogs, Nala and Beenie. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University, and has performed leading roles in musicals and opera from Carmen to My Fair Lady, as well as the part of the Mother Abbess (three times!) in The Sound of Music. When Rachel isnt working with one of her thirty voice and piano students, she loves gardening, hiking, and making her own bone broth. Crash is her first book. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA.