In 1989, Nancy Klein’s story made headlines when, after a traumatic accident left her in a deep coma, her family was thrust into a public legal battle for a therapeutic abortion. But Damaged: After the Coma, After the Headlines, The Story of a Family reveals the much deeper, personal story that followed the headlines—one that spans over three decades and explores the complex, emotional journey of a family forced to confront unthinkable challenges.
When Nancy Klein woke from a coma, her brain had been irreparably damaged. Her recovery, both physical and mental, would never happen—not in the way the world expected or hoped. The fight for her life became a struggle not just for survival, but for understanding what “living” truly meant. Her mother, a relentless advocate for her daughter’s recovery, held onto hope long after medical professionals confirmed that the limitations of Nancy’s condition would be permanent. The story that unfolds is not one of miraculous recovery, but one of profound perseverance, heartbreak, and unyielding love.
Damaged tells a story that’s both personal and universal. It spans the years from 1988 to the present, capturing a family’s journey through a series of devastating challenges. Alongside Nancy's struggle, the book also reveals the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, complicating family relationships and deepening the emotional toll of an already fractured world. These intertwined narratives form a raw, unflinching look at how trauma, both physical and emotional, affects not only the individual, but those around them.
Through candid storytelling, Damaged reveals the complicated and painful realities of living with a loved one who has permanent disabilities. It’s a book about acceptance—of our limitations, our pasts, and each other. It’s about the fragile nature of hope, and the fierce, sometimes flawed determination to keep going despite knowing the odds are against us.
For anyone who has ever fought for someone who may never fully heal, or for those who have faced impossible choices in the face of tragedy, Damaged is a powerful, unforgettable testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.