Janet Smuga

Author

Damaged tells the story of what happened to my family after my sister made headlines as “Coma Mom” in 1989. 
This is not an inspiring story of overcoming handicaps; it is a story of survivors’ guilt coupled with resentment tempered by love. Although it is about my family, the story touches on widespread concerns: the role of caregivers, the changing dynamics of a family after a catastrophic injury, and, in my case, the long term effects of a childhood trauma. 
My sister lost everything -- her marriage, her memories, her mobility -- to brain damage. My mother sacrificed everything in a vain attempt to make my sister whole again.
This book is for every woman who has ever been blamed for something a man did to her, for every girl who grew up feeling ashamed.  It is for every mother who gave herself so completely to one child’s needs, she lost sight of everyone else, including herself. It is for every daughter who wanted to rescue her mother, and failed. It is for all the forgotten family members.