Author Description

"Ten years after a car accident paralyzed my legs, a pressure sore infection escalated into a life-or-death scenario requiring emergency surgery, followed by an extended recovery in a nursing home. For weeks, I was confined to a special medical bed, where I was not allowed to sit up, but required to remain on my back 24/7. This is the story of my search for peace and sanity during that claustrophobic confinement, which subsequently led to a deeper understanding and alignment of my internal, eternal wellbeing." Author Ashley Lyn Olson "There has never been a more important time for healthcare to fully understand the patient experience and this book gave me greater insight into the journey. Along with some entertaining moments, the author's expressive reflections illuminate deeper themes that connect us all. Specifically, healthcare professionals and patients would all benefit from looking through the lens of her unique perspective." Allan "AJ" Johnson, MPT, Physical Therapist, Children's Hospital Director "As a person with a disability, I am in awe of Ashley's ability to choose light over darkness and embrace beauty in all aspects of life, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Her creativity and positive mind are articulated throughout the book, teaching us that our perception can lead us from adversity to a magnificent, spiritual path of appreciation." Wendy Crawford, Co-founder of RawBeautyProject.com "Ms. Olson's journey, as lovingly and humorously recounted in Confined to Align, artfully juxtaposes her rising and falling suffering with the beauty she finds in poetry, a joy list ("the smell of dirt"), a fleeting but necessary friendship (with Lola), and blissful slivers of nature. In these things she finds redemption, and her humanity becomes our own. Any physician or health care practitioner reading Ms. Olson's work will discover boundless empathy and compassion for themselves and the patients whom they serve." Jerome Bothe Deck M