The Phenom's Wife: How a Caregiver Lost and Found Herself in Her Family's Trauma

The unsparingly truthful journal of a wife & mother catapulted into a life of hope, wonder & devotion, while her husband lies comatose...

After Jenna's husband Steve suffers a traumatic brain injury from a cycling accident, she emerges into a mystical, optimistic existence. For 388 consecutive days Jenna posts stories of gratitude & healing on CaringBridge.

While this is a story of loss, hope & growth, Jenna describes fascinating details of a medical recovery from coma. She admits the agony of parenting through trauma & recounts the trials of negotiating health insurance & healthcare. By chronicling her exhausting life as a caregiver, Jenna shares the process of becoming someone new.

This gripping narrative demonstrates that hard times polish the gems of our life experience & how love can give unprecedented strength in impossible circumstances.

Purchase The Phenom's Wife here.

About the author

Jenna shares stories of her family’s journey through trauma & cancer. She married her first boyfriend, & together they built a storybook life—two wonderful kids, a beautiful home in California, & a network of meaningful connections. Their life felt abundant & joyful. In 2017, it disappeared.

When her husband was struck by a car while cycling & fell into a coma, she vowed to bring him back to life.

She documented every moment of their family’s journey on CaringBridge. Looking back, the story wasn’t just about healing from trauma or community support—it was also about the raw, unhealed trauma that remained.

She hopes her journey offers inspiration & sheds light on the harsh realities of trauma, the beauty of human connection, & the haunting truth behind the old adage:

be careful what you wish for.