There I Am

The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing—A Memoir

By: Ruthie Lindsey

Narrated by: Ruthie Lindsey

Brain on Fire meets Carry On, Warrior in this inspirational memoir and “testament to the things that break us, heal us, and make us who we are” (Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author) that explores one woman’s journey from chronic pain and hopelessness to finding joy, redemption, and healing.

At seventeen years old, Ruthie Lindsey is hit by an ambulance near her home in rural Louisiana. She’s given a five percent chance of survival and one percent chance of walking again. One month later after a spinal fusion surgery, Ruthie defies the odds, leaving the hospital on her own two feet.

Just a few years later, newly married and living in Nashville, Ruthie begins to experience debilitating pain. Her case confounds doctors and after numerous rounds of testing, imaging, and treatment, they prescribe narcotic painkillers—lots of them. Ruthie has become bedridden, dependent on painkillers, and hopeless, when an X-ray reveals that the wire used to fuse her spine is piercing her brain stem. Without another staggeringly expensive experimental surgery, she could well become paralyzed, but in many ways, she already is.

Ruthie goes into the hospital in chronic pain, dependent on prescription painkillers, and leaves the same way. She can still walk but has no idea where she’s going. As her life unravels, Ruthie returns home to Louisiana and sets out on a journey to learn joy again. She trades fentanyl for sunsets and morphine for wildflowers, weaning herself off of the drugs and beginning the process of healing—of coming home to her body.

Raw and redemptive, There I Am is not just about the magic of optimism, but the work of it. Ruthie’s extraordinary memoir “like going on a walk with a best friend and listening to a life-changing speech at the same time: it’s equal parts familiar and profound, warm and insightful, comforting and challenging, relatable and unlike anything you’ve read before” (Mari Andrew, New York Times bestselling author).

amazing book

amazing book. I dont visualize but I could see everything she was reading. great writing.

Great listen!!!

So good!! Definitely worth the listen!!! A very profound perspective of her story, well spoken!!

Inspirational and moving

Ruthie is such a gifted story teller. Her story is so moving and inspirational! She has a way of making you feel as though your own personal journey relates to her harrowing unbelievable one. This book is so beautiful.

Life changing

Ruthie tells her story so beautifully. It’s so accessible and relevant. I read it at the most perfect time in my life and was able to push through some chronic pain. Grateful for her and her willingness to share this story. Highly recommend.

Such a heart opening story.

It was beautiful. Sometimes a little too heard to bear all the sadness and pain. I had to take breaks from time to time. So worth it, though, to find the healing and joy in the story too. Thank you for sharing your journey Ruthie!