Survivor: Taking Back My Life

By Catherine Booth

For me, the year 2020 started with a series of unfortunate events. I was already navigating major life changes when a mysterious illness took hold of my body and landed me in the hospital for two months.

In this book I share my incredible journey as the specialists worked together to solve the puzzle of my diagnosis.

I was pushed to my limits as my frail, malnourished body battled through the onslaught of testing and surgery that left them no choice but to put me in an induced coma.

This is the story of conquering my illness and the larger than-life characters I met along the way. In my most desperate hour, I found hope and the determination to survive and take back my life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Jun 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9780228855026

Catherine Booth

Catherine Booth has always been a storyteller at heart. After surviving her harrowing medical experience, she signed up for writing classes to pursue her new future as a writer. She lives in beautiful New Westminster with her daughter, overlooking the Fraser River that her grandfather set sail on for many years as a fisherman.

Book preview

Survivor

Taking Back My Life

Catherine Booth

Survivor

Copyright © 2021 by Catherine Booth

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-5501-9 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-5500-2 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-5502-6 (eBook)

Dedication

This book is a gift to myself.

It’s amazing to see my goals manifest after a lot of soul searching and determination.

Praises for Survivor

Catherine’s account is a story unlike anything I’ve read. While it discusses IBS it avoids BS. An unflinching account of overcoming not just severe illness but also medical misdiagnosis where medical staff and fellow patients become your family and, like all families, some members are more bearable than others. If Catherine could survive this (spoiler alert: she did!) maybe we’ve all got a shot at getting through the darkest tunnels.

—Steve Patterson, Comedian

Catherine’s extraordinary tale of overcoming hardship lifted my spirits and will be the light for many when life feels hard. This story of inspiration, resilience, and courage provides the much-needed hope for the many dealing with IBS. Bravo Catherine you got this!

—Leslie Bennett

Mental Health Strategist & Partner

Mental Health Innovations

Survivor is a harrowing ride through a medical emergency, written with such candor and charm, it draws you in completely, a story of human fragility and perseverance. Using humour and memorable details, Catherine puts us in the hospital right alongside her, living her pain, feeling the nuances of her emotional ups and downs, a cathartic ride for both writer and reader. Despite the dark times, the story has a spirited energy and an informative edge, it’s more than a memoir, it is practical and optimistic. I encourage anyone who wants to be better prepared for health emergencies in their own lives to read this book.

—Christine Lauter, former colleague,

fellow writer and colitis patient herself

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Little Catherine

Chapter 2 - The Adventure Begins

Chapter 3 - Desperation

Chapter 4 - Roommates

Chapter 5 - The Lady in Red

Chapter 6 - The Surgery

Chapter 7 - Waking from a Coma

Chapter 8 - My New Ostomy

Chapter 9 - Communication

Chapter 10 - Archie Andrews Returns

Chapter 11 - There’s No Place Like Home

Chapter 12 - Statistics and Coping Tools

Chapter 13 - Taking Back My Life

Chapter 14 - The Woman in the Mirror

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Statistics Around the World

Acknowledgements

Every book is a recipe made up of ingredients from our own lives, from those who influence us and those who participate in our lives (for better or for worse).

Thank you to my daughter Alyssa who showed courage, compassion and strength in supporting me through this ordeal. You are a bright, shining star in the universe!

A heartfelt thanks to my sisters, my stepmother Linda, and my nieces and nephews who gave me love and momentum to keep pushing forward. Thanks also to my brother-in-law who provided insights on publishing. I’m very grateful to my friends Maureen, Jody, Kathleen and Angie who allowed me the space to express my hopes and fears, and for bringing me coffee!

A very special thank you to my Auntie Terry for every moment of care and love and help during her visits. To Auntie Marg, I am so grateful for all your messages of support and checking in. And to my cousin Julie, thank you for helping me bear the weight of the mountain of decisions and holding my hand through my fears. Thanks to Auntie Elaine for visiting and giving me comfort.

Thank you to my incredible medical team; without you I wouldn’t be here today. Dr. Chuah, Dr. Webb, Dr. Prest, Dr. Sandhu and every other nurse and doctor who attended to me. To the two ambulance attendants who came into my home and pulled me from despair, I am forever grateful. There were other experts who worked on my case that I never even met, but I am so grateful for their contributions. Thank you to the infectious disease doctors, Dr. Mirzanejad and Dr. Deans, and to surgeon Dr. Nguyen who oversaw my file in the early days.

Thank you so much to my superstar team at Tellwell Publishing. I appreciated your expertise every step of the way. From my initial call with Apple, to my discussions with my project manager, Grace, I received valuable direction and support. Thank you to my graphic designer, Ralph, for the stunning book cover design! And a very heartfelt thanks to my editor, Darin, for helping me elevate my writing. Finally, thank you to Angela for your marketing advice that will help this book reach my audience.

An extra thank you to my sisters, Brenda and Jennifer, for their endless support while I brought this book into existence.

And finally, thank you to Joshua for your continued support on my journey. Your guidance is immeasurable, and I look forward to all our conversations.

Introduction

My name is Catherine, and I am a survivor. In this book