FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    June 21, 2007

NORTHWESTERN FACILITATOR HOPES BOOK WILL ASSIST OTHERS
IN RECOVERY FROM CATASTROPHIC INJURY

            Patricia Grimes, a facilitator (professor’s assistant) at Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid, has written “Giants in the Land,” a book detailing her confrontation with, and recovery from a catastrophic illness.

            “My hope is that by relating what happened to me, someone else facing a catastrophic illness will be helped and encouraged,” Grimes said.

            Approximately 10 years ago, Grimes visited an ear, nose and throat doctor thinking she had an ear infection. Her life was changed forever when he told her she had a life-threatening condition in her head and referred her to a neurosurgeon.

            After extensive tests, it was determined that Grimes had a dural arteriovenouos malformation (DAVM), a nonmalignant congenital defect that consists of a complex, tangled web of abnormal arteries and veins in the covering of the brain. Statistics show that only about 300,000 people in the United States’ population of 300 million have the condition.

            “The doctor did not give me even a small percentage of a chance to come through the surgery,” Grimes said. “I was only the third patient on whom he had performed the surgery, and he told me that my condition was the worst he had seen, either in his patients or in his studies of the condition. The shock, trauma and extended recovery were catastrophic.”

            Grimes said that while she was dealing with her condition, she also had a mother, mother-in-law and best friend who were seriously ill.

            “Through all these experiences, God stayed by me and brought me successfully to the other side of terror,” Grimes said. “I think the book is entertaining, and I tell the story as though we were sitting down together, visiting face to face.”

            She said the experience was both a blessing and nightmare.

            “There is so strong a need in my heart to tell how the Lord blessed me and brought me, as well as my husband and family, through it all,” Grimes said. “Of course, I hope the book will be successful financially also. I’m very excited about accomplishing my dream of being a published author of a book.”

            “Giants in the Land” is published by Xulon Press of Lakewood, Fla., and sells for $10.99. For personal orders, interested persons may call (866) 909-2665. Bookstores, churches and other organizations need to call (866) 381-2665, ext 107.

            Grimes and her husband Ordell have been married 53 years and live with their two cats Kriket and Musette. They have two sons, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all living in Colorado. She likes to read, write, sew and cook, and the couple is very active in their church.

            Since many classes at Northwestern-Enid are taught via interactive television, Grimes, as a facilitator, assists professors through taking class attendance, distributing course handouts, overseeing examinations and generally keeping order in the classroom.

-NW-

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