To Dance in the Rain - A Mother and Daughter's Journey of Hope and Healing by Clare Keating

On a cold and sunny Saturday morning in February 2002, Alicia was rushed into surgery for the third time in twenty-four hours. She had just suffered a massive stroke, a catastrophic complication following a routine brain surgery the previous morning and was now left fighting for her life. Alicia Townsend, at sixteen years old was an outgoing, loving, talented, and intelligent high school junior, a dedicated swimmer and had been voted to be the next season’s co-captain. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, and involved in a variety of activities in and out of school as well as multiple volunteer organizations, including Venture Crew and Relay for Life. Offseason, she swam on a USS swim team at Southern Connecticut State University. Her life-long dream was to become a teacher. On Friday morning, Alicia ran up three flights of stairs as her mom took the elevator; she met her with a victorious smile as the elevator doors opened outside the surgical suite on the third floor. Less than twenty-four hours later, as her mother hastily signed permission forms for the third surgery, Alicia’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Duncan, explained, “I will try everything I can, but I need you to know that this is desperate. I do not expect her to make it.” To Dance in the Rain is Alicia’s story—her fight, her triumphs, her setbacks...her journey. Day after day, Alicia fought, with the help of her family and friends. At every turn along the path back from the very edge of death, she pressed on, facing every challenge, inspiring everyone who observed her battle. To Dance in the Rain will impact every reader emotionally and inspire us all, especially those who are facing seemingly insurmountable odds, to forge on, to continue to fight, to never—ever—give up