Bonni Brodnick Blog

On the first pages of My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery,  it reads: This book is dedicated to my mother, who gave me life, not once, but twice. Imagine what it was like for her that Easter morning. I (on the left) was driving 65 MPH on a three-lane major highway when I had the stroke. When I didn't respond to a question my mother (right) posed about my son's upcoming wedding on Martha's Vineyard, she saw that something was very wrong. At first, she panicked, then did the unthinkable: She leaned over, veered hard to the right, and crashed us into a guardrail on the side of the highway. I would absolutely, bar none, not be here telling my story if it hadn't been for Mom. This newly designed cover reveals us in the going-out-of-control moment. The car is slightly askew, and my mother is crazed. She was about to give me a second life. Gratitude to Lisa, Amanda, and Wanda for contributing to the "Praise" page: The back cover is different, too: And t...

  I was asked to write a testimonial for the Hudson Valley Writers Center for grants, and their website to encourage new students to study with them. Of course, I thought of Susan: "Susan Hodara is a caring, encouraging, and patient teacher. She was at the very beginning of my stroke journey.  I remember talking to her after class one day and being embarrassed to read aloud because of my speech. I felt awkward and self-conscious, revealing my struggles, symptoms, pain, and frustration to the class. Her kind and ongoing mentorship gave me the confidence to pursue the long road that resulted in my book,  My Stroke in the Fast Lane: A Journey to Recovery .  I am ever grateful to HVWC for making this connection to Susan, a truly extraordinary teacher." \