Flying on the Inside: A Memoir of Trauma and Recovery
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- Create Date：2022-02-19 07:51:58
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Rachel Gotto
- ISBN：1542028736
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Summary
The remarkable true story of one woman’s journey back from the brink。 Newly widowed and faced with a deadly brain tumour， she was given two years to live。 She wanted more…
When her six-year-old daughter found her collapsed on the kitchen floor， Rachel had no idea how much her life was about to change。
A brain scan revealed a dark shadowy mass， a huge abnormal growth of tissue that， whilst benign， was still growing and would surely kill her。 It was too big to operate on。 It needed to be ‘managed’， and Rachel had， at best， two years to live。
Refusing to accept the bleak prognosis， Rachel was determined to stay alive。 She had already lost far too much。 She had already watched her brother succumb， at only twenty-eight， to cancer。 She had already lost her beloved husband in a terrible scuba diving accident when she was six months pregnant。 So she did the only thing she knew how to do。 She fought for her life。
This gripping and inspiring memoir about overcoming tragedy and trauma charts one tenacious woman’s incredible fight to find light in the darkest of journeys。 It is a life-affirming tale of positivity and hope in the face of the most difficult of human experiences。
When her six-year-old daughter found her collapsed on the kitchen floor， Rachel had no idea how much her life was about to change。
A brain scan revealed a dark shadowy mass， a huge abnormal growth of tissue that， whilst benign， was still growing and would surely kill her。 It was too big to operate on。 It needed to be ‘managed’， and Rachel had， at best， two years to live。
Refusing to accept the bleak prognosis， Rachel was determined to stay alive。 She had already lost far too much。 She had already watched her brother succumb， at only twenty-eight， to cancer。 She had already lost her beloved husband in a terrible scuba diving accident when she was six months pregnant。 So she did the only thing she knew how to do。 She fought for her life。
This gripping and inspiring memoir about overcoming tragedy and trauma charts one tenacious woman’s incredible fight to find light in the darkest of journeys。 It is a life-affirming tale of positivity and hope in the face of the most difficult of human experiences。
Reviews
Kathy
，
UpliftingRachel went through trauma， heartache， and near death but was able to get through it all with hard work and support of friends and family。
Susan
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This is a first person account of the author's journey through several major personal traumas， including， most notably， the discovery of her having a major brain tumor。 It appears the tumor and its aftermath would have killed most people， but Ms。 Gotto finds a personal strength in her despair to stubbornly fight through to the light on the other side。 She is the definition of grit and shows us the determined people don't always look or act like you expect them to。 Sometimes people just have the This is a first person account of the author's journey through several major personal traumas， including， most notably， the discovery of her having a major brain tumor。 It appears the tumor and its aftermath would have killed most people， but Ms。 Gotto finds a personal strength in her despair to stubbornly fight through to the light on the other side。 She is the definition of grit and shows us the determined people don't always look or act like you expect them to。 Sometimes people just have the tiniest glimmer of hope， or sometimes no hope at all， but an inability to give up on someone who loves and needs them。 The writing is down-to-earth but polished， and the pacing is well done， although I wished at times for a more chronological storyline so I would know all the personal history in its entirety before the tumor。 She explains neuro/physical problems that most of us will never have or feel， but without it turning gratuitously awful。 I also really wondered about the funding for her medical and massive support network （yoga， therapy， acupuncture and more） and wish she would have addressed that， as it seems unattainable for most。 A very solid 4。5 stars and best wishes to the author！ 。。。more
ToShunda Washington
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I personally enjoyed this book but I didn’t honk it’s for a specific set of people。 It reminded me of my decision to stop antidepressants。
Judy Graves
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From the heart I enjoyed reading this non fiction book。 The author has written words from her soul。 Truthfully sharing her challenges， the difficulties and her success shows deep compassion for other humans ， her desire to help others is her heart。 For us that have experienced emotional and or physical pain unimaginable for many the book touched me in a personal way。 I am thankful and feel honored to write my recommendation。
Katelyn
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As a memoir， it’s unfortunate that it’s true。 Her life is tragic but she also makes a lot of poor decisions。 It’s hard to read。 She glosses over her physical recovery and goes into painstaking detail of her emotional recovery。 It’s written in a way where she goes back and forth in time but since it’s all in the past it becomes a little scattered。
Laura Neale
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This book has been so disappointing。 I had high hopes of a beautiful story of recovery， physically and mentally and coming to terms with disability but instead this was a book that was ableist and spiritual in a negative way， making out we can overcome things we want to if we try and believe hard enough and this。 Just。 Isn’t。 True。
Claire Davidson
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Inspirational and so braveI took inspiration from the authors heart and immense journey to recovery。 Everyone says they grow personally and for the better during a recovery journey and sometimes it feels a bit hard to identify with，yet this author clearly demonstrated this。 In doing so， I commend the bravery and honesty of the author in telling her story and the immense vulnerability she shares。 What a brave soul。 A well written， engaging story that tells of hope despite very traumatic times。
Cassandra E Waldron
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A really descriptive story of her horrific journey in life。I really liked this book until I got to the end were it went off balance with benzodiazepines。 Believe I understand the hell the meds put one threw in the course of using them。 Honestly， proud she freed herself from valium。 What about the other prescribed drugs。 No symptoms from those。 Guess I taking my thoughts out of context。 I know every drug has side effects。 Just cause you read a study， that explains the faults of these benzodiazepi A really descriptive story of her horrific journey in life。I really liked this book until I got to the end were it went off balance with benzodiazepines。 Believe I understand the hell the meds put one threw in the course of using them。 Honestly， proud she freed herself from valium。 What about the other prescribed drugs。 No symptoms from those。 Guess I taking my thoughts out of context。 I know every drug has side effects。 Just cause you read a study， that explains the faults of these benzodiazepines。 Why is not every doctor following the guidelines， of the professional study。 Still good book！！ 。。。more
Mary Schwarz
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An amazing and inspirational book about a woman who had suffered many losses and was told she had an inoperable large frontal brain tumor and was going to die。 She found a surgeon and underwent a difficult surgery and recovery。
Judy Eaton
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What a tale！ I was interested in the medical aspects of this book。 Could have made the book much shorter。 I admire the author's courage， though。 What a tale！ I was interested in the medical aspects of this book。 Could have made the book much shorter。 I admire the author's courage， though。 。。。more
Madeline
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Rachel went through a very difficult time for most of her life。 Her father was not just strict but almost abusive to his family。 She was very close to her brother， Dominic， and was devastated when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer。 She helped care for him and looked for treatments as his condition deteriorated。 She was inconsolable when he died at age 28。 Her husband's death in a tragic diving accident was the next event she had to deal with。 She was six months pregnant at the time with their f Rachel went through a very difficult time for most of her life。 Her father was not just strict but almost abusive to his family。 She was very close to her brother， Dominic， and was devastated when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer。 She helped care for him and looked for treatments as his condition deteriorated。 She was inconsolable when he died at age 28。 Her husband's death in a tragic diving accident was the next event she had to deal with。 She was six months pregnant at the time with their first child。 One day her young daughter found her lying on the floor。 She was to find out she had a benign brain tumor that was growing rapidly and the doctors gave her two years to live。 She decided she was not going to die and sought another doctor who agreed to operate as long as she was prepared to accept whatever condition she came out of surgery with。 The rest of the story is about her recovery from surgery and her eventual recovery from drug dependence left over from the brain surgery。She is a very determined and persistent person - keeping going when the only reason to do so was survival。 I found the story very difficult in parts as she described her experiences in the withdrawal process。 I often had to stop reading and go away from the story for a time to be able to deal with it。 But the person she is today came out of great trials and she has triumphed。 She is a therapist now and I'm sure her patients find her compassionate in a way many therapists are not who have not had to go through the hell she did。 。。。more
Denise
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3 1/2 stars
Heather Browning
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This is the sort of story of unimaginable trauma that places one's own smaller problems into perspective 。。。 childhood abuse， loss of the people closest to her， severe life-threatening illness with difficult and prolonged recovery 。。。 where someone is able to find the strength to make it through all of this and come out relatively settled and optimistic， it gives hope that this is possible for anyone。 This is the sort of story of unimaginable trauma that places one's own smaller problems into perspective 。。。 childhood abuse， loss of the people closest to her， severe life-threatening illness with difficult and prolonged recovery 。。。 where someone is able to find the strength to make it through all of this and come out relatively settled and optimistic， it gives hope that this is possible for anyone。 。。。more
Dani G Owre
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How did she do that？This book is a most amazing journey of one woman to not only survive but thrive。 How she didn't give up I will never know。 How did she do that？This book is a most amazing journey of one woman to not only survive but thrive。 How she didn't give up I will never know。 。。。more
Abby
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This is a story of loss， hope and ultimately resilience that emerges from trauma。 The reader experiences the author’s lowest points with raw honesty to her rising above it all empowered， confident， in tune and in sync with her internal self。 Highly recommend！
Monica
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This is going to sound bad but I didn’t like this memoir。 I mean， I am sorry for this woman’s struggle and she came through a huge ordeal to be “healed”。 But it was so tough to read。 The set up of the chapters as flashbacks to real life to flashbacks from different times really made it hard to follow。 I also was surprised there weren’t any details about how she came to walk again it just happened one day？ Weird。
Katy
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good bookThe book was easy to read and kept me interested in what would happen next。 I believe it is an important book to read as it is inspiring， hopeful and honest。 I did not like the going back and forth between the different time periods。 It aggravates me。 It was hard to keep track of the time frame。 I wish that she would have explained more about how she went from being so paralyzed to eventually walking。 She started but then switched to the prescription drug issue。
Trina Priese
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Read in one nightWhat an inspiration！ An amazing story of overcoming obstacles most of us don’t even realize exist for some。 Her writing style flows easily and captivates at every turn。 I’m so glad I stumbled on this book， especially since my own life is experiencing major changes that have me looking at a significantly different future that I’d planned。 Thank you Rachel。
Brittney
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A lot of lessons passed on through this storyA pure and raw story。 There's nothing but honesty and heart that tells throughout the whole book。 I'm so grateful I came across this read。 A lot of lessons passed on through this storyA pure and raw story。 There's nothing but honesty and heart that tells throughout the whole book。 I'm so grateful I came across this read。 。。。more
Grace
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A truly inspiring story for anyone who struggling with grief， disabilities， seizures， illness， addiction or any other kind of adversity。 The path that Rachel follows is a blueprint that could help to lead others to success， it is paved with determination and a strong belief that healing is possible and that we are all worthy to be healed。 Her own healing is miraculous but also incredibly difficult。 This story will help inspire you to seek your own recovery， knowing that it will require hard work A truly inspiring story for anyone who struggling with grief， disabilities， seizures， illness， addiction or any other kind of adversity。 The path that Rachel follows is a blueprint that could help to lead others to success， it is paved with determination and a strong belief that healing is possible and that we are all worthy to be healed。 Her own healing is miraculous but also incredibly difficult。 This story will help inspire you to seek your own recovery， knowing that it will require hard work and determination， but will be well worth the effort。Rachel has experienced a life that I don't believe many of us would be able to endure。 She holds nothing back in the telling of her story！ I can’t imagine going through such as this without my Lord and Savior walking by my side。 It must have Ben terribly hard for Rachel！！！ 。。。more
Gen
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No words for this bookThis book is beyond words。 It is hard to read at times mainly from all that is going on。 You definitely need to have quiet from those around you so your not interrupted。
Valerie
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WOW - this may seem like spoilers， but the book introduction aludes to them， so to be upfront with people before they read things that could trigger their own traumas， here’s what you’ll read about。 The audio is read by the author who lived it。 A brain tumor after losing her brother to bowel cancer mid 20s and her husband to a diving accident when she was six months pregnant… all after the trauma of an emotionally abusive father。 Her mother and sisters-in-law are stoic and supportive。 She makes WOW - this may seem like spoilers， but the book introduction aludes to them， so to be upfront with people before they read things that could trigger their own traumas， here’s what you’ll read about。 The audio is read by the author who lived it。 A brain tumor after losing her brother to bowel cancer mid 20s and her husband to a diving accident when she was six months pregnant… all after the trauma of an emotionally abusive father。 Her mother and sisters-in-law are stoic and supportive。 She makes decisions based on not wanting to die within two years of her tumor diagnosis， while her daughter is young， and overcomes many obstacles including surgery， recovery， the drugs her doctor’s prescribed to keep her seizures in check。 She’s a very independent person， as well， so some of her decisions may not be the ones others would make。 Recommended reading。 Book #7 for 2022。 。。。more
Sadie
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Rachel Gotto deserves 5 stars for her grit and determination and proactive approach to her health， especially regarding the benzo dependency。 The reason I only gave the BOOK three stars is that it's a tough read and not easy to follow with the constant jumping around in timeline。 While I appreciate her commitment to respecting the privacy of friends and family， I found myself wanting to know more about her mother's memories of the experience。 Her mother was an incredible person and the only true Rachel Gotto deserves 5 stars for her grit and determination and proactive approach to her health， especially regarding the benzo dependency。 The reason I only gave the BOOK three stars is that it's a tough read and not easy to follow with the constant jumping around in timeline。 While I appreciate her commitment to respecting the privacy of friends and family， I found myself wanting to know more about her mother's memories of the experience。 Her mother was an incredible person and the only true stability in Rachel's life。 Can we hear her side of it？ How did her mother find the strength to keep going？ 。。。more
Bonnie L Marincek
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Flying on the Inside。。。This was truly an amazing memoir of a strong willed woman。 Rachel's account of her life after traumatic brain injury is written in such a soul bearing way that it felt as if I was right there along with her thru this heart wrenching journey。 She suffered such traumatic medical and mental setbacks and struggles with this injury as I read thru each chapter。 In the end， Rachel triumphs thru all the adversity and becomes a "new version" of herself as the purposeful， incredible Flying on the Inside。。。This was truly an amazing memoir of a strong willed woman。 Rachel's account of her life after traumatic brain injury is written in such a soul bearing way that it felt as if I was right there along with her thru this heart wrenching journey。 She suffered such traumatic medical and mental setbacks and struggles with this injury as I read thru each chapter。 In the end， Rachel triumphs thru all the adversity and becomes a "new version" of herself as the purposeful， incredible woman she is today。 I highly recommend this book。。。you won't regret it！！ 。。。more
Fiona
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A really compelling， thought provoking read。 Rachel shares her （often emotional and traumatic） story in such a way that you are left feeling uplifted and inspired。 A really good read and I'd definitely recommend。 A really compelling， thought provoking read。 Rachel shares her （often emotional and traumatic） story in such a way that you are left feeling uplifted and inspired。 A really good read and I'd definitely recommend。 。。。more
Joanne
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instead of flying， it should be crashingThis book started out very interesting。 She describes in detail the problem she was having， but it quickly became unreal。 We never did understand where she had gotten the money in order to live the lifestyle that she was living。 Also the way she gave up her life and traveled the country in the world with her brother seemed very far-fetched。 As it got more into her own illness， it got very depressing and boring and I found myself flipping through the last 5 instead of flying， it should be crashingThis book started out very interesting。 She describes in detail the problem she was having， but it quickly became unreal。 We never did understand where she had gotten the money in order to live the lifestyle that she was living。 Also the way she gave up her life and traveled the country in the world with her brother seemed very far-fetched。 As it got more into her own illness， it got very depressing and boring and I found myself flipping through the last 50 pages very quickly in order to get to the end。 I find it hard to believe that her daughter came through this as well as she did; I feel we’re going to be reading her book about her therapy in the years to come。 。。。more
Jenae Spencer
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Enjoyed the women’s honesty and perseverance- I cannot imagine what she went through。 However， I did not enjoy the writing style。 I found myself skimming often because the details were laborious and repetitive。
mary james
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What an insight into a mind that's been transformed by a tragic event！！！ What a wonderful strong lady and what a poignant read。 It's difficult to understand what goes on in someone's brain when you haven't suffered this kind of trauma but the way it was written gives you an inkling into what goes on。 I read it in one day as I couldn't put it down。 I'd like to think I'd be as strong if this happened to me but I'm dubious that I would。 Well done Rachel for giving us an insight into your life and m What an insight into a mind that's been transformed by a tragic event！！！ What a wonderful strong lady and what a poignant read。 It's difficult to understand what goes on in someone's brain when you haven't suffered this kind of trauma but the way it was written gives you an inkling into what goes on。 I read it in one day as I couldn't put it down。 I'd like to think I'd be as strong if this happened to me but I'm dubious that I would。 Well done Rachel for giving us an insight into your life and may the future be bright for you。 。。。more
Kathryn （Kat） Weaver
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I really wanted to like this book。 The story in itself was incredible， but the book was not。 I really disliked how the chapters would jump 10 years ahead， 5 years back， 3 years forward， 15 years back， etc。 It seemed as if I were reading multiple books at once。 Rachel is an incredible woman， brimming with strength and perseverance。 I loved reading of her healing。 However， I felt a large portion of the book was more based on the medical side and her different medications which I feel like took awa I really wanted to like this book。 The story in itself was incredible， but the book was not。 I really disliked how the chapters would jump 10 years ahead， 5 years back， 3 years forward， 15 years back， etc。 It seemed as if I were reading multiple books at once。 Rachel is an incredible woman， brimming with strength and perseverance。 I loved reading of her healing。 However， I felt a large portion of the book was more based on the medical side and her different medications which I feel like took away from her story。 Although I know that is part of her story， I felt very disconnected from her story anytime she would go off for pages about different medications and symptoms of medications and medical specifics。 The book cover boasts about her trauma and recovery， and I felt as though I didn't get to read enough about HER in her trauma and recovery but mostly about her medical conditions， complications， medication troubles， ect。 Overall， I rated 2 stars because I would've loved to be able to connect more with Rachel through her memoir。 。。。more
Julianne Naomi
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