PEOPLE SAY NICE THINGS

"Just wanted to let you know we came all the way from Vancouver to buy your book! Actually we’re on vacation with the family near London, Ont. so we decided to take a day trip to O.S. So this was a wonderful reason to come to Owen Sound. Your book is excellent and I look forward to the next one."

Moya Doyle
(I’m an O.T. and will lend your book to clients for inspiration and humour!)

Rachel, I want to thank you for your truly poignant presentation to our local Brain Injury Association. Your expressions, through your book, of your frustrations, struggles, and triumphs really hit home with me as a parent and my daughter as a survivor. As a parent and caregiver you really caused me to realize how important it is to consider the effects of ABI through a survivor's eyes. Your warm presentation style with your wonderful sense of humour made your time with us unforgettable.

Sue Loyst
Conference Attendee

"I am so glad that I met you at Moving Ahead Together, A.B.I. Survivor's Conference2003 last week in London, Ontario. You are an inspiration to me."

Annie Malipaard
Conference Attendee

“Rachel’s gifts are many and varied. All who read this book will celebrate her sense of humour. Those of us who have been privileged to work with her, understand the drive and determination she used to arrive at this juncture. May her wisdom ease the journey for those of us who must travel the same path that she lives on.”

Joan K. McAndrew Ph.D., C. Psych.

“I met Rachel at a Personal Growth Workshop in Owen Sound. She was on my list as a contact. I hadn’t seen her in 4 years and when I asked if she remembered me her response was, “But you never called.” This quick humourous response told me that Rachel would be all right. Her sense of humour was intact. We laughed as much as we worked during rehab. She is still a good friend. Good for you Rachel! Keep up the good work!”

Diane Bowe RN, CRRN

“I never thought I would laugh through a book about a girl critically injured by a speeding automobile. Rachel's candid commentary and emotionally charged cartoons will take you on a journey of humour and healing that will leave you with no doubt, laughter is still the best medicine.”

Wilf Van Dyk
Cartoonist & Animator

Before this Canadian Nurses Week is over, let me recommend a great read. I’m not talking about any weighty tome on the health care system. I’m suggesting a romp through the 136 pages of Really, I’m Fine! And I just can’t think of a better way to celebrate our health care professions in the area than to enjoy the cartoons of Rachel Oliver, the gutsy young mother from Owen Sound who fought her way back from the brink. On Monday this week, five years to the day since her traumatic accident, Rachel launched her latest book (she had published two before the accident). She’s already working on another, but this is about Really, I’m Fine! A Humorous Look at Recovery.

Rachel Oliver left her children waiting for their school bus on the morning of May 6th, 1997 and set out on her routine 4-kilometre jog. About half way, she was struck by a car and her life changed forever. All her limbs were broken and she slipped into a coma in her fight for life. She lost her speech, vision and balance. For months of her recovery she struggled with double vision. But 30 months after the accident, vision restored, she could concentrate on her many other challenges.

Anybody facing challenges in their life will get a laugh and a lift from Rachel’s cartoon record of her five years on the road to recovery. Because drawing is still a challenge for her, local cartoonist Wilf Van Dyk lent a helping hand. But the emotion and humour on every page comes from Rachel and her oh so healthy honesty and outlook.

A tribute to her family, to her recovery team here in Owen Sound and to her own courage, this is a book that deserves a place in every hospital where people can draw encouragement from it. And if you feel overwhelmed by your challenges, I’m prescribing this book for you!

Ross Kentner's Comment
560 CFOS / 1490 CFPS Radio
Thursday, May 9, 2002

A delightful book. It is awesome. I want to put this onto the Ontario Psychological Association members e-mail exchange site. Where do people order copies of the book and what's the cost? Let me know quickly so we can start this landslide success.

Love
Joan

Hi - you did a good job today - the food was good that we got - must keep that caterer's name on file.

Congrats on a great book - fun to read - can't wait for the next one - and the mounted copy for the wall was nice too - will have my name up there forever which is kind of nice when I am retiring -thanks for asking me to write something for the book.

Hope you are not too tired - and what a nice boyfriend!!!!

Love, Diane

Rachel,

Thank you so much for launching your book at the Rehab. It really meant alot to me. It is a great book. My dad looked through it tonight and said he could relate - he felt that way after his stroke. He doesn't usually talk about it but the book allowed him to share his insights. I'm glad things are going so well. I would have loved to have been at the Ginger Press - I hope that event went well.

Talk to you soon.

Mary

Rachel, just got your book at noon hour today. I laughed and I cried. I know you have come a long way since the first time Harry and I saw you at GBRHC. Keep up the good work. Stop in for a coffee and to sign our book. (Harry hasn't seen it yet - will later this afternoon).

Love,
Eugenia
Division Street United Church

I would like to direct your attention to a book of cartoons recently published by one of my clients, Rachel Oliver. Rachel was the unfortunate victim of an accident that occurred five years ago. She was hit by a speeding automobile on a county road while jogging and suffered numerous physical injuries as well as a severe head injury. Despite ominous predictions and expectations Rachel recovered and has written and illustrated an extremely honest, and yes, unbelievably funny, book about her recovery experiences. I highly recommend it.

Joan K. McAndrew Ph.D., C. Psych.

Dear Rachel:

Thanks again for coming in this a.m. to talk to our Job Finding Club group.

You mentioned that you would like feed-back from our group and I promised that I would "get some" ...so here it is:
I asked the group first, if they understood how your story applies to them in their life and job search etc, and I was thrilled that every one of them "got it". I know you want "negative" as well as "positive" feedback, but there were really no negatives. We asked for "comments" about what each person got from your talk.
- That everyone can cope "positively" in "the game of life" regardless of what it throws at you

- The thing that you can control in your life is your attitude and how you respond to any / all situations

- A positive attitude can help you overcome or cope with ANYTHING

- If you look for negatives...your life will be negative, if you look for positives in any situation, you will find them too

- "life is for learning, even in the toughest circumstances"

- "talk about making lemonade out of lemons"

- never give up hope

- you can overcome obstacles (or not if you decide not to)

- keep going, do what you want to do, make decisions, take responsibility for yourself

- attitude is everything, keep smiling and feel good about yourself

- sometimes it is harder to live "one day at a time" than at other times

- and the one that I though was really good-every parents teenager thinks they over-react

We wrote these comments down on flip chart paper as people said them.

THANKS AGAIN.

I really enjoyed meeting you and will look forward to the next time.

Take Care

Laurie Christie
JBL Employment

Rachel, I want to thank you for your truly poignant presentation to our local Brain Injury Association. Your expressions, through your book, of your frustrations, struggles, and triumphs really hit home with me as a parent and my daughter as a survivor. As a parent and caregiver you really caused me to realize how important it is to consider the effects of ABI through a survivor's eyes.

Your warm presentation style with your wonderful sense of humour made your time with us unforgettable.

Sue Loyst