Skip to main content

About the Book

About the Book

Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Caregiving

On the sun-kissed shores of the Golden State, Kathi and Don Koll were a golden couple. He was a successful real estate developer, and she had grown up among children of celebrities and future TV stars with a beloved big brother engaged to one of Hollywood’s leading ladies. Together, Kathi and Don --- a modern-day Nick and Nora Charles --- built a life of joy, filled with adventure, romance and a little mystery, as they cracked jokes with the president, survived a carjacking and traveled the world as guests of royalty and heads of state. But their life, which seemed rich with possibility, changed abruptly after Don suffered a catastrophic stroke, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down, unable to speak, breathe or walk on his own, while Kathi became his full-time caregiver.

With honesty and refreshing humor, Kathi shares the realities of life in uncharted territory, from the challenges of turning their home into an ICU unit to the complications of intimacy. Despite her own personal suffering, Kathi's indomitable spirit helped her summon the strength and endurance to fight for what many said was impossible so Don could continue to live a full life. Kathi's journey, steeped in the joy of living in the moment, teaches us what it means to never lose hope for tomorrow --- at the best of times and under the worst of circumstances.

KICK-ASS KINDA GIRL is a caregiver's journey, but it is also a love story and a warrior's tale filled with inspiration and practical advice, offering a unique perspective on living life to the fullest.

Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Caregiving
by Kathi Koll