ABOUT THE BOOK
Bone by Bone is the author’s account of suffering near-fatal injuries in the derailment of Amtrak 188 outside Philadelphia in 2015 and her long recovery in the years since. The forthcoming book deals honestly with the long-lasting impact of sudden trauma and offers hope – from the perspective of someone who has been there. And back.
The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on.
ULIA ALVAREZ, CELEBRATED DOMINICAN-AMERICAN WRITER
“This is the book I was searching for during the darkest period of my recovery, when I had no idea what to expect up the road,”, says Geralyn. “I was desperate to find something that would help me make sense of what I was experiencing.” During her long recovery, Geralyn found that hearing the stories of fellow trauma survivors eased her sense of alienation and gave her hope that she would get her life back. She hopes that sharing her own story will help other survivors facing similar uncertainty, pain and loss.
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In one sense the title, Bone by Bone, alludes to the gradual process of healing, but it also signifies the devastating power of trauma. The words are from a poem by Emily Dickinson:
There is a pain—so utter— It swallows substance up— And covers the Abyss with Trance— So Memory can stepAround—across—upon it— As one within a Swoon— Goes safely—where an open eye— Would drop Him—Bone by Bone
DICKINSON, EMILY, AND THOMAS H. JOHNSON, ED. THE COMPLETE POEMS OF EMILY DICKINSON, (BOSTON: LITTLE BROWN, 1960), 294.
The American Trauma Society is dedicated to the elimination of needless death and disability from injury. For over 50 years, the ATS has served as an advocate for the trauma care system, trauma prevention programs, and survivors of trauma and their families throughout the United States. Our mission is to Save Lives, Improve Care, and Empower Survivors.
The Trauma Survivors Network is a community of patients and survivors looking to connect with one another and rebuild their lives after a serious injury. The underlying goal of our resources and programs is to ensure the survivors of trauma a stable recovery and to connect those who share similar stories.