A Heroine’s Journey, Cathy Crimmins Essay Example

by the paramedics that Alan's chances of surviving until they reach the hospital are slim. Along with his initial injury, Alan has multiple seizures and stops breathing during the flight. Despite feeling shocked and desperate, Cathy remains unwavering in her belief that she should be by her husband's side as his condition worsens. By asking, "After spending nineteen years with a man, how could you not want to be there when he passes away?", Cathy demonstrates her steadfast commitment.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Alan is stabilized by medical professionals who choose to induce a coma using chemicals to prevent further seizures. Cathy later learns that her spouse's frontal lobe has suffered extensive damage, causing significant harm to his brain. The attending physician informs Cathy that there is a chance she may not encounter the same Alan as before. According to the University of Alabama, it is standard procedure to perform a Glascow Coma scale assessment within 24 hours after a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The range for measuring the severity of a brain injury is from 3 to 15, with a score of 3 indicating a potential indefinite vegetative state. Alan's score was 5, suggesting a possibility of awakening but uncertainty about his mental state afterwards. His official diagnosis is Diffuse Axonal Injury[2], along with frontal lobe lesions and bleeding. Cathy suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar world upon hearing this news, as she may have to take on the role of caregiver and bear the weight of the responsibility if her husband wakes up.

She goes forth unknowing but unrelenting in her commitment to her husband, knowing that if the roles were

reversed he would do the same. Belly of the Whale During the following days after the accident, Alan starts to fluctuate in and out of consciousness. A Hematoma over the left side of his brain has resulted in Alan losing movement and function over most of the right side of his body. Speech gradually returns along with evident signs of speech dysassociation. Alan sporadically inquires," Where is the Mango Princess? ", but is unable to explain who this person is.

Cathy is questioning whether the mango princess is a creation of the seizures. Despite her husband's rapid recovery within a few days, doctors inform her that his current mental state may be permanent. This revelation marks the end of our protagonist's previous life and identity. She will no longer hold a subordinate role in her family; instead, she will become the steadfast support both psychologically and financially for the remainder of her life.

The Road of Trials

Alan's mental state quickly deteriorates after losing consciousness, as lesions and brain swelling have rendered him akin to an infant. Cathy now finds herself responsible for feeding him pureed food due to his difficulty in chewing. This task challenges her maternal abilities, as she recalls the last time she had to spoon-feed someone was her daughter Kelly over seven years ago. In a joking manner, Cathy admits that she lacks many of the nurturing qualities expected of a mother and humorously compares herself to Florence Kevorkian rather than Florence Nightingale. She ponders on whether this will be her future and questions if Alan's condition will persist indefinitely, reducing him to nothing more than

a shadow of the man she once knew.

Alan's condition improves as he starts recognizing people in his ICU room and regaining his ability to speak. However, he has lost his sense of location, as shown by his random outbursts. He expresses a wish to go to the pool, mentioning their membership at the Swim Club back home. At other times, he thinks he is in his office and mistakes beeping medical devices for phone calls. Cathy interacts with Alan by discussing the imaginary meetings and characters that occupy his thoughts.

Cathy is dealing with her husband's frequent angry outbursts as she learns how to handle them. Despite Alan being moved from the ICU to a standard hospital room and making some physical progress, he still struggles with controlling his right side. Cathy also faces challenges in resolving disputes involving the HMO and the lack of insurance coverage for Alan outside of the United States. She fights against the insurance company to bring Alan back home to Philadelphia but due to his condition, air ambulance remains the only safe mode of transportation.

Despite the HMO's refusal to cover transportation costs, Cathy takes on the expense herself and finds a suitable airline. She tries unsuccessfully to comfort her daughter during this challenging time and feels guilty for not being there. However, she hopes her daughter understands how important it is for her to be by their father's side.

The guidance provided

Cathy receives various forms of guidance in coping with her husband's condition. Firstly, she receives support from the hospital nurses who demonstrate patience and provide her with necessary caregiving skills.

She also consults several doctors, some of whom are more understanding than others. One doctor, referred to as "Dr. Asshole," is particularly unhelpful.

Additionally, Cathy is assisted by James Acosta, an old schoolmate of Alan's, who helps her arrange transportation for Alan back to the US through a reliable airline. Later on, Alan's brother Michael plays a role in his home recovery, travel arrangements, and eventual reintegration into the workforce.

On the tenth day after the accident, Alan becomes fixated on asking repetitive questions such as "What are we gonna do?" repeatedly.

Cathy is concerned about Alan's air ambulance trip back home from the hospital in Canada. She worries that the unfamiliar environment may lead to mental regression for him. However, she is determined to protect her husband and has become a strong advocate for his well-being. As Cathy says goodbye to the hospital staff in Canada, she takes with her valuable information on caring for her "reborn" spouse. It is common for people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries to feel like they are starting a new life during their recovery.

The brain is attempting to rewire itself following a trauma, which makes it possible. Nevertheless, the HMO unexpectedly canceled the chartered air ambulance, challenging those who supported it. Instead, the insurance company arranged their own flight. While arguing with the HMO at the airport, there was no sign of the flight. Eventually, news arrived that it would likely arrive in 30 minutes. At this stage, Alan had been enduring extreme heat without sufficient water for over an hour.

When the new ambulance arrives, Cathy discovers that it

is in terrible condition like a junky plane. Additionally, all the amenities of the flight have been removed, there is no medical staff present, and only two highly incompetent pilots will be on board. Nevertheless, she proceeds to board the flight. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a one-hour journey for proper medical transportation turns into a grueling two-hour ordeal. Cathy struggles to maintain her husband's stability and hydration during the flight. Finally, upon arrival, they encounter a minor conflict with customs agents due to the flight and plane lacking clearance to enter the US.

Fortunately, Cathy and Alan are swiftly taken to the nearest hospital, while only the pilots are kept in custody. Cathy manages to persuade the customs agent to allow them to pass. During Alan's time at the Hospital of the University Of Pennsylvania (HUP), Cathy realizes that the whole family will soon have to adjust and return home. Essentially, she is forcefully thrown into a new life that is very different from the one she had before the vacation. Although Alan has become somewhat independent through time and rehabilitation, the dynamics of the family before the vacation have not remained unchanged.

Alan's frontal lobe damage has led to a loss of propriety and noticeable disinhibition[4], manifested in his constant and inappropriate masturbation. Consequently, the HMO insurer intends to shorten Alan's hospital stay to less than three weeks upon their return home. According to the HMO, as long as his physical health remains satisfactory, hospitalization is unnecessary for his mental health. Instead, outpatient rehabilitation can effectively address his mental health issues. In light of this decision, Cathy enrolls Alan in

multiple programs designed to improve his independence and self-reliance.

Alan is eager to go back to work and regain his driving privileges. With the new structure in their lives and a better grasp of how things should operate, Cathy, Alan, and Kelly are all adjusting to their new lives. The roles they now have present more challenges but also offer deeper comprehension and acceptance. They approach this unfamiliar reality with open minds and a thirst for knowledge. Personally, I decided to cover this book for multiple reasons.

The book I chose has a personal significance to me. One reason is that it highlights the support provided to survivors of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), such as the assistance given by a Speech Language Therapist in Alan's case. Seeking professional help is emphasized as important in the book, even though it only briefly mentions this. Another reason for my connection with this book is because TBI survivors often face similar challenges to my youngest autistic brother, Raul. These challenges include behavioral issues like fits of rage and disinhibition, as well as difficulties with language. The shared experiences between TBI and autism make this topic personally relevant to my own life.