An Interview with Juana Lebedinsky, author of DOWNHILL: A Memoir of an Accident, Two Comas, Many Books, and Starting Over

Send us Fan Mail

When Juana Libedinsky's husband, Conrado, suffered a catastrophic skiing accident in Patagonia, life changed in an instant.

The journalist, wife and mother suddenly became a caregiver navigating a severe brain injury, a coma, international medical logistics, two children, insurance, hospitals and the enormous uncertainty of what came next.

In this episode, Juana joins Jeanette Yates to talk about the experience behind her memoir, Downhill: A Memoir of an Accident, Two Comas, Many Books, and Starting Over.

They explore the side of caregiving that rarely makes it onto the screen: paperwork, practical decisions, awkward questions, school schedules, medical systems and the constant work required simply to keep life moving.

Juana also shares how friends, family and complete strangers stepped in during the crisis, why well-meaning advice can sometimes make things harder, and how laughter unexpectedly helped her feel human again.

They also discuss something caregivers often struggle with: the gradual erasure of your own identity.

For Juana, continuing to play tennis, read books and eventually write helped her hold onto pieces of herself.

And when the crisis eventually eased, her family didn't emerge as completely transformed people with a profound new philosophy of life.

They mostly wanted normal life back.

For caregivers carrying the pressure to survive perfectly, learn a great lesson from suffering or become a “better” version of themselves, Juana's story offers another possibility:

Sometimes getting your ordinary life back is enough.

Get your copy of Downhill today; click here.

Support the show

NOW AVAILABLE! From Guilt To Good Enough: A Caregiver’s Journey of Overcoming Burnout Through Healing Childhood by Jeanette Yates. Having been a caregiver for her mother since childhood, Jeanette knows firsthand the emotional toll caregiving can take. In this memoir-turned-self-help guide, she shares her journey of healing, setting boundaries, and reclaiming her life. Click here to purchase your copy!

At The Self-Caregiver LLC we guide women caring for their aging parents overcome burnout and release guilt to create more freedom and fulfillment in their life. 

We believe you cannot give more of yourself until you heal the wounds, replenish your being and reconnect to the fullness of who you are, embracing the purpose you‘ve been called to live.