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Praise for Standing Up!
In sharing her deeply personal experience of a severe stroke and road to recovery, Kathleen has given the reader an insight into the physical challenges faced by stroke victims and the emotional and mental challenges facing them and those who love them. The book is a masterclass in resilience and humanity.
Cecilia Burgess, COO of Bell Gully Lawyers NZ and former client
Kathleen is an extraordinary and inspirational human being. She is a shining example of what it takes to look adversity straight in the eye and have the courage to say ‘go away, you certainly will not get the better of me... not ever!’ Standing Up! illustrates the extraordinary and harrowing physical and psychological ordeal Kathleen experienced, reflecting her remarkable determination, fortitude and passionate will to succeed.
Her story is a compelling and inspirational one that will move you to appreciate and see your life and all that is in it in a new light. The book is beautifully and compassionately written. It will move you in a deep, profound and loving way!
Bernadette Baynie, Group General Counsel, Batelco Group
Kathleen Jordan inspired leaders to new heights before her stroke and now with this book she continues to inspire us with her story about how she dealt with what life threw at her. To have come through her stroke experience with such a strong desire to contribute what she learned to others is truly remarkable. Her practical approach to her recovery offers something for all of us as we deal with those curve balls that life throws at us.
Brian Donovan, Director, Donovan Leadership
Jordan’s book vividly expresses the vital but multi layered complicated processes of standing up for herself (with the support of her Hope Team of family and friends) as she negotiated her way through bureaucracy and ‘the system’ following a catastrophic stroke.
After years of sadness and loss, unanswered questions and disappointing rehabilitation encounters, Jordan and her family continued to struggle, learn, and endeavour to put every effort into her regaining her feet so she could leave her wheelchair and stand up. Bravo!
Standing Up! stands up for the importance of family, friends, kindness, purpose, love and hope to stand up to stroke.
Dr Christine Durham, Victorian Senior Australian of the Year 2014, BrainLink Woman of Achievement 2012 and author of Unlocking my Brain, Ventura Press 2014
This is a true story of survival… a compelling story about the experience of and recovery from stroke – a massive assault on the brain’s structure and functioning, and on life as it was. It is the sort of book from which any stroke sufferer could gain great support, encouragement, strength and courage. But it is much more than this. It is a story of family, of grief, of love, of despair, of determination, and of hope and belief… a story that will resonate with many others who have travelled a parallel journey.
The title Standing Up! couldn’t be more apt. The author gives a moving account of the sometimes agonising process of learning how to compensate for the breakdown in communication between her brain and her body, and of relearning what able-bodied people consider to be the most basic of physical actions. She also writes of the emotional ‘standing up’ that needed to happen, initially by family members on her behalf, and later by Kathleen herself, in relation to a medical and service provision system that required standing up to. The lessons learned here were crucial, and will potentially serve as an invaluable aid to families in the future.
Kathleen’s writing is a life-affirming, lively and loving account. Well before her stroke and the writing of this book, Kathleen expressed her goal for living her passion: ‘Bringing love, generosity and inspiration to the world.’
Her stroke, far from preventing her from doing this, has enabled this particular manifestation of exactly that. May it inspire others to identify and nurture their own.
Pamela Rycroft, Psychologist and Family Therapist
Positive psychology is a key part of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s approach to developing the teachers of the future. This emerging discipline is helping to prepare children and young people to live flourishing lives. In Standing Up! Kathleen shows how positive psychology tools helped her back from the brink after a major stroke. I strongly recommend this book to anyone going through major life changes.
Professor Field Rickards, Dean, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne
This book is a powerful testament to both the isolating effects of injury to the brain – that you’ve got to find your own way to recovery and adaptation – and the crucial role that family and friends play in that journey. It is required reading for every clinician and allied health professional working with people who experience stroke.
Nick Rushworth, Executive Officer, Brain Injury Australia
A crisis can be turned into a challenge, it all depends on how you choose to look at it. Kathleen has made choices she never considered possible or necessary. As I read her journey I felt shocked, saddened, amazed, humbled, grateful, lucky and at times I laughed out loud. Having spent time with Kathleen during those two years in rehab, I can now see and hear and feel the distance between where she was and where she is now. Strength of mind is desirable and at times elusive for us all and this is a personal account of many mountains which have already been climbed and those which are still being challenged. Favourite cousin, you are one hell of a woman!
Paula Day
Resilience is one of the pillars for today’s business leaders. This book is a story of resilience that will move you and continue to teach long after you have reluctantly turned the last page.
Dr Megan Clark AC, Advisory Board member, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Kathleen shares an honest and moving narrative of her experiences post brain injury. She faces fear, hopelessness and despair not only of the condition itself but of the care system which often failed her. Alongside her family and friends she holds onto hope and determination to live her life her way. Her story will inspire individuals and their family members struggling with the aftermath of brain injury and provide insight to workers in their caring role.
Franca Butera-Prinzi, Social Worker/ Family Therapist
I have known Kathleen for some time, both as a friend and as a valued and trusted adviser to our business.
Kathleen’s story is one sometimes of despair, deep frustration and overwhelming loss, but also one of remarkable courage and dogged determination to recover from a debilitating illness, and the cruel and sudden loss of independence and all she held dear and had worked so hard to establish.
Her story is also a reminder to us all of the strength of family and close friends and how we need to nurture those relationships that so enrich us, but that we sometimes take so much for granted.
Kathleen’s continuing bravery in the face of the profound loss of her daughter, Lucinda, is also both heart-rending and inspirational.
On behalf of myself and my colleagues at Cornwall Stodart, I wish Kathleen all the luck in the world in her efforts to return to full mobility.
Michelle McLean, Chief Executive Officer, Cornwall Stodart, Melbourne
This is a wonderful book. I found it a compelling read. First I relived my dear friend Kathleen’s horrific