Angela MacDonald is donating a portion of her book’s proceeds to the UHN Foundation to support the Tator Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory, part of UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute. (Photo: UHN)
A devastating diving accident with a prognosis of quadriplegia and an epilepsy diagnosis requiring brain surgery. Either one on its own is enough to affect someone’s life permanently. But having both in short succession at a young age is a recipe for lifetime of despair.
In Angela MacDonald’s case, with a lot of hard work and determination, she overcame both diagnoses. But her accident and surgery set her on a path to achieve her life’s purpose: helping others to tap into their inner strength to overcome adversity in their lives.
Her story and the lessons learned throughout her recovery are now available in a book, “Absolutely I’m Possible!” Part memoir and part guide for “self-development, healing, personal growth, and spirituality,” a portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to the UHN Foundation to support the Tator Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory, part of UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute.
“My hope is not only to help anyone dealing with traumatic experiences in their lives, but also support research so that people who have suffered spinal cord injuries have more options or even a full recovery like I did,” Angela says. “I am so grateful for the medical care I have received, but it is also inner strength and determination that helped me to heal and I am excited to share my learnings with others.”
The book’s forward is written by UHN neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Tator, who performed the decompression surgery in 1988 which ultimately restored function in Angela’s spine.
“I believe your message is great,” Dr. Tator writes. “If we ‘listen up,’ we too can develop and mobilize the inner strength that is in all of us to meet life’s challenges.”
Angela’s book is available for pre-order with copies expected to ship by the end of March.
More information is available at www.toreallylive.com