Inspiration Through Tragedy
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Some of you may know author and literary coach Monica Bhide from her Indian cookbooks; others know her as the accomplished memoirist of A Life of Spice, or the author of a collection of short stories, The Devil In Us, or her debut novel, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken. In addition to writing books and magazine articles and speaking at literary and cultural events, Monica has taught sold-out writing workshops around the United States and the world. A former engineer, she embraced the challenge of pursuing her dream of a writing career while raising two sons with her husband. She founded her own publishing company last year; the goal of Bodes Well Publishing is to publish fiction and nonfiction books that empower readers.
For years, Monica has helped many individuals find their voice and pursue their dreams. But on January 31, 2017 Monica’s world was turned upside down.
She writes: “At 7:00 a.m. on January 31, 2017, my husband and I were sipping coffee and talking about the day, making dinner plans with the children. By 8:30 he was being wheeled into the OR for a completely unexpected, massively life-changing surgery. The surgeon was telling me to ‘call the family’ because he might not make it.”
At age 47, Monica’s husband had suffered a massive brain bleed.
The next weeks and months were spent in ICU, “praying, praying, praying, and praying more,” Monica says. Throughout those many hours, long days and longer nights, Monica kept a journal. She wrote about what was happening and about her feelings. She wrote about the other families she got to know, about navigating the world of the ICU, and about suddenly becoming the primary caregiver to her spouse as well as their two boys.
Not surprisingly, Monica now wants to take what she has learned through this tragedy and use it to help others. She wants to turn her journal into a book for others facing similar devastating circumstances. Filled with inspiration and guidance, it will bring the comfort, joy, and clarity they need to maintain faith and hope.
From Monica: “Today as I stand here at one of the most difficult points in my life, I am reminded of what my father has always said: to look at the problem in front of me and try to see the good in it—that is, to make the obstacle my message, to look at my path and know that these obstacles are not stumbling blocks but that they are the path.
“Staying true to that philosophy, I have decided to take the very difficult situation I am in and see how I can use it to help others. I have decided to write a book, an interactive journal to help families and primary caregivers in the ICU and in hospitals so that they may benefit from my experience. This interactive journal will be filled with inspiring and thought-provoking stories of what happened with us, how we managed our emotions and found meaning in the most impossible moments. It will also have sections for people to write down thoughts and feelings during their own difficult time. The book will become a keepsake; each person who writes in it will make the book their own.”
When Monica’s husband was finally able to go to rehabilitation, the doctor who discharged him said, “You are the miracle patient we will tell our other patients about.” Monica discovered that the miracle had launched her family on another unexpected journey. Monica’s husband now continues to recuperate at home, where she helps him rebuild his health while watching over their sons. Each day demands strength, focus, and unending love from everyone to meet the unimagined challenges that arise in the long recovery process, which doctors say could take a while.
“Despite all that my family and I have been through, we’re so blessed that he’s made it, he’s getting better, that friends and family gathered around, supported us, and validated my belief in the goodness of humanity. I want to repay my blessings and gratitude by helping others the only way I know how: to write,” Monica says. “So many of us face challenges that seem larger than life. I want to use the next few months to capture everything I have learned to help people cope and thrive no matter how difficult life gets. I want to do my part to lift individuals in the world.”
Let’s lighten the load and give Monica the well-deserved support she needs to write this book, continue her writing and publishing pursuits to get her message out to the world, and hire the help she needs to maintain her writing during this time. Let’s help Monica make a difference. Join us! Please spread the word!
For years, Monica has helped many individuals find their voice and pursue their dreams. But on January 31, 2017 Monica’s world was turned upside down.
She writes: “At 7:00 a.m. on January 31, 2017, my husband and I were sipping coffee and talking about the day, making dinner plans with the children. By 8:30 he was being wheeled into the OR for a completely unexpected, massively life-changing surgery. The surgeon was telling me to ‘call the family’ because he might not make it.”
At age 47, Monica’s husband had suffered a massive brain bleed.
The next weeks and months were spent in ICU, “praying, praying, praying, and praying more,” Monica says. Throughout those many hours, long days and longer nights, Monica kept a journal. She wrote about what was happening and about her feelings. She wrote about the other families she got to know, about navigating the world of the ICU, and about suddenly becoming the primary caregiver to her spouse as well as their two boys.
Not surprisingly, Monica now wants to take what she has learned through this tragedy and use it to help others. She wants to turn her journal into a book for others facing similar devastating circumstances. Filled with inspiration and guidance, it will bring the comfort, joy, and clarity they need to maintain faith and hope.
From Monica: “Today as I stand here at one of the most difficult points in my life, I am reminded of what my father has always said: to look at the problem in front of me and try to see the good in it—that is, to make the obstacle my message, to look at my path and know that these obstacles are not stumbling blocks but that they are the path.
“Staying true to that philosophy, I have decided to take the very difficult situation I am in and see how I can use it to help others. I have decided to write a book, an interactive journal to help families and primary caregivers in the ICU and in hospitals so that they may benefit from my experience. This interactive journal will be filled with inspiring and thought-provoking stories of what happened with us, how we managed our emotions and found meaning in the most impossible moments. It will also have sections for people to write down thoughts and feelings during their own difficult time. The book will become a keepsake; each person who writes in it will make the book their own.”
When Monica’s husband was finally able to go to rehabilitation, the doctor who discharged him said, “You are the miracle patient we will tell our other patients about.” Monica discovered that the miracle had launched her family on another unexpected journey. Monica’s husband now continues to recuperate at home, where she helps him rebuild his health while watching over their sons. Each day demands strength, focus, and unending love from everyone to meet the unimagined challenges that arise in the long recovery process, which doctors say could take a while.
“Despite all that my family and I have been through, we’re so blessed that he’s made it, he’s getting better, that friends and family gathered around, supported us, and validated my belief in the goodness of humanity. I want to repay my blessings and gratitude by helping others the only way I know how: to write,” Monica says. “So many of us face challenges that seem larger than life. I want to use the next few months to capture everything I have learned to help people cope and thrive no matter how difficult life gets. I want to do my part to lift individuals in the world.”
Let’s lighten the load and give Monica the well-deserved support she needs to write this book, continue her writing and publishing pursuits to get her message out to the world, and hire the help she needs to maintain her writing during this time. Let’s help Monica make a difference. Join us! Please spread the word!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jennifer Farley
Organizer
Chevy Chase, MD
Monica Bhide
Beneficiary
