She Danced with Lightning

My Daughter's Struggle with Epilepsy and Her Boundless Will to Live

By: Marc Palmieri

Narrated by: Marc Palmieri

Part family memoir, part medical mystery involving severe epilepsy, She Danced with Lightning follows one girl's battle to persevere as a competitive dancer, culminating in a terrifying decline, a courageous performance, and an eleventh hour, life-saving brain surgery.

Eleven-year-old Anna has lived all her life with severe epilepsy. Despite the ravage of thousands of violent seizures and heavy medications, she has thrived at school, athletics, and her greatest passion—dance. As she approaches her twelfth birthday, Anna's condition takes a dire turn. Her health declines quickly and a new diagnosis is revealed, leaving the family only one excruciating choice. A parent's memoir about the medical mysteries of epilepsy and the personal suffering of raising a child with a deadly health condition, She Danced with Lightning is told from the perspective of Anna's dream-chasing father, who comes to learn from her a strength and courage he never imagined possible.

©2022 Marc Palmieri (P)2022 Tantor

A remarkable story!

This is the first time I have ever read a book via audio. I loved it. Not only the story, but also the unique opportunity to listen to the actual author retell his story. It allowed me as a reader to feel a part of the book and truly made me feel for each of the characters.

This story is beautiful and although heartbreaking throughout much of the book, the author has a way of also making you laugh.

She Danced With Lightning is a relatable journey for any parent or family member that deals with illness or a disability and gives hope that with family, faith and modern medicine anything is possible.

A loving story of father and daughter told with dignity and insight

Bravo to Marc and his daughter for making this amazing story accessible to all of us.

Remarkable

Such a great listen as a mother to a child living with epilepsy. Strikingly relatable and well written.

Relatable and Amazing Raw Emotions

As a fellow epileptic, who is on three medication’s and had brain surgery in December 2022 to put in an RNS Device- thank you for this book. It helps me not only understand how my loved ones and my husband may feel caring for me. But it also gives me hope for the day, one day, where I may be able to be weaning off meds myself and the day I dream of, being seizure free. I am not currently, but I am so happy that your daughter’s surgery was so successful and that she came out healthy, happy, and now seizure free. Hugs and prayers for your whole family.

A wonderful masterpiece!

A touching story of a family’s struggle beautifully written and narrated. She Danced with Lightning allows the listener a glimpse into their journey. I laughed, I cried, I prayed, and I rejoiced. Highly recommend!