Don’t Leave Me This Way: Q&A With Julia Fox Garrison
There were so many questions we wanted to ask Julia Fox Garrison, author of
Don't Leave Me This Way: Or When I Get Back on My Feet You'll be Sorry, that we couldn't get them all onto our
podcast. Below are some questions we asked Julia about whether there is any scientific relationship between esp and stroke, her ability to use proper medical terminology in describing her care in the book and much more.
Q: I'm very intrigued to see your ESP, your prescience that you discussed in the book. You forsaw Daisy was misdiagnosed, you had a dream about a plane the night before 9/11, and you were sure your diagnosis was not what the doctors insisted. Was this ESP new post stroke or was it something you always had.
A: Julia Fox Garrison: Well, I believe we all have it; it's something that got fine tuned for me after my stroke. What it really is is listening to your inner voice, because that's your soul talking to you and it's the most honest voice you'll ever hear. I was able to trust it. Sometimes it can be scary. I remember Jim saying to me when I said they had made a mistake on Daisy's diagnosis ‘do you really just wish it so badly you believe it or do you feel it. And I felt it. It's something we all have. It's just a matter of fine tuning and listening to it.
Q: The medical terminology and explanations in the book are very clear and concise. In fact, I believe at one point you were approached by a doctor after speaking before a group of physicians to compliment you on the accuracy and simplicity of your explanations of your medical condition. You were a software support manager before the stroke, what kind of research did you do in writing this book to get that accuracy?
A: I didn't do any research. The only research is what I had been through. That was my education. I asked a lot of questions. I was a real pain to the doctors because I never stopped asking until I completely understood it. I don't have a degree in medical science, but I feel like I do now because of what I have been through. What I've asked others in my talks - especially those who have a devastating injury - is do they remember everything and they say "yes." It's like a movie. You can see the room, the color of the tile, the smell. It's like visualization. I am actually using visualization to recover. Believe me I'm going to rollerblade some day.
Q: Your book began as a self-published, but because of its popularity, it ended up being in an auction and HarperCollins won the bid. Did you have to make a lot of changes from the self-published PS Julia: missing a piece of your mind can be puzzling to the HarperCollins book with the new title, Don't Leave Me This Way?
A: I had the ability to interview with the interested publishers and I wanted to find a publisher who would be sensitive to my story and keep it intact. HarperCollins did a fabulous job with that. I love that publisher; they have become my friends, like family. You can always edit and edit. I did have to make some changes, a few new chapters and an appendix at the back of patient tools.
Q: Many who have read your book wonder if Jim will ever write about the experience from his perspective?
A: I don't think Jim will ever write his perspective because he gets very emotional and doesn't like to relive the experience. He's extremely private too, so it would be uncomfortable to reveal his emotions o the public. Of course, he has me, the big mouth, so we counter-balance each other.
Q: Now, 11 years after your stroke, how is Rory doing?
A: Rory didn't start to show signs of distress until he was 7 and half when he had developed the verbal skills to express his feelings. He became extremely phobic of several things, which I did address in the book, such as all things medical, food, his parents dying. He actually had post-traumatic stress and I had to get him counseling for years. He's much better now and as happy as can be, a typical 13 year old.