Kick Ass: Changing the Odds through Faith, Will, and Hard Work

By Evie Coss

Kick Ass: Changing the Odds through Faith, Will, and Hard Work is a powerful narrative of resilience and determination. The author recounts her journey following a catastrophic accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down, a condition akin to that of Christopher Reeve. In her darkest hour, she turned to Christ, whose response marked the beginning of a remarkable turnaround.

Her head therapist, upon her departure from acute rehab, confessed that he initially doubted her chances of recovery. Despite this, she defied expectations.

Evie, a Michigan State University graduate, furthered her education by obtaining an MBA on a grant from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She broke barriers as the only female director in the aerospace sector of Allied Signal.

Her steadfast faith in Christ provided the strength needed to navigate through her life’s crises. Now a mother of two and grandmother of three, she cherishes the life she has been able to resume, despite its limitations. These restrictions once hindered her from golfing for 11.5 years. However, after discovering Balance of Nature, she joyously returned to golf, a beloved activity she thought lost to her, completing the last piece of her recovery puzzle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9781398455948

Evie Coss

Evie Coss was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and left for the mainland and got her secondary and master’s degree. Electing to live her adult life in the mainland, she had the opportunity to live in Michigan, California (twice), Indiana and New Jersey. She has two sons (Alan and Bobby) and three grandchildren (Charlotte, Chase and Chloe). Over decades she has written personalized dedication for hall-of-fame celebrities, presidents and royalty. A closest writer, on turning 73, she would have two books in publications.

Book preview

About the Author

Evie Coss was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and left for the mainland and got her secondary and master’s degree. Electing to live her adult life in the mainland, she had the opportunity to live in Michigan, California (twice), Indiana and New Jersey. She has two sons (Alan and Bobby) and three grandchildren (Charlotte, Chase and Chloe). Over decades she has written personalized dedication for hall-of-fame celebrities, presidents and royalty. A closest writer, on turning 73, she would have two books in publications.

Dedication

First and foremost, I would like to dedicate the writing of this book to my dear friend Pat, who encouraged me to do this.

Secondly, I would like to thank God and my neurotherapist at the Acute Rehab in Mission Viejo, and outpatient Rehab at Hoag Hospital for helping me resume my life. I would like to thank my sons and their families for being my rally to recovery.

Thirdly, I would like to thank Balance of Nature and the science of Dr Howard’s research that helped me when medical science had given up on me. Seeking out several specialists in the field, they all maintained that a spinal cord injury (unlike bones) does not heal; but rather I would be relegated to a life of limitations.

Copyright Information ©

Evie Coss 2024

The right of Evie Coss to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398454828 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398455948 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Austin Macauley publishers in London. My books were sent to the NY office for review and fell into a rabbit hole. I was encouraged by the London office to submit to them.

Chapter 1

Almost a decade ago, I thought that I was living my own dream. Buried both my parents with respect, watched both my sons lift off, still able to play competitive golf, working as a consultant after having lived out a full career in the defense/aerospace business. I was content with my life.

But, one fateful night, 5/1/2011 (the night we got Bin Laden), I had a freak accident, in my own home, which left me paralyzed from the neck down. This would change my life, forever. I was told that where I broke my neck and severed my spinal cord was where Christopher Reeves broke his. And we all know the outcome. And he was ’Superman’.

Let’s roll back six months, as this was not the very first incident wherein my blood pressure dropped, and I nearly passed out. The first time, I was conscious enough that I was able to try and grab onto the side wall in the powder room, which also had marble floors. When I came to, I had slight scratches and bruises to my face, but no breakage of skin. I did go and see my internist after this incident, and she was convinced that I probably had heart issues and should see a cardiologist. Always too busy, I did not. She maintained then that it could have been a lot worse. Famous last words – as six months later, it was.

She also wanted me to seek out a hematologist/oncologist because of my low white cell count. I had heard that the out-of-pocket expense was $5,000, which made the decision a non-starter. I tried to convince her that as a person, I probably just run low. Eventually, I acquiesced and sought out one and have been with him in excess of two years. We started out with blood work every month, then quarterly intervals and now I am at the bi-annual schedule. I am still below normal but