Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Caregiving

Kathi Koll's acclaimed and award-winning memoir is both a love story and a survivor's tale in which Koll courageously unveils an unexpected life of joy, adventure, heartbreak, and even a little laughter, as she shares the realities of being a full-time caregiver..
'Koll's compassionately told stories inspire and uplift.' -Publishers Weekly
When her husband, Don, called on his way to the hospital, Kathi Koll had no idea how dramatically their lives would change--or how her loving heart and indomitable spirit would fight it. From childhood, her life might have seemed charmed: play dates with Lucie Arnaz, real dates with a future TV idol, and a big brother engaged to film star Dolores Hart. But behind the scenes, her role as a caregiver began early with a mother dying of cancer, a father battling alcoholism, and a brother diagnosed with a debilitating disease. Butwhen Kathi found Don Koll-her 'rock'-their joie de vivre and unstoppable moxie made everything feel possible. Until Don woke up 'locked in' after a catastrophic stroke.
With raw honesty and refreshing humor, Kathi shares the realities of a life in uncharted territory as a full-time caregiver, from turning her home into an ICU to trying to regain a couples' intimacy. Her ability to share sorrows while laughing at herself helped her find a 'new normal' where she and Don could live each day to its fullest. Koll's journey is a powerfully moving tale of resilience and inspiration--at the best of times and under the worst of circumstances.