From a Kick in the Head to a Kick in the Ass: My Involuntary Journey with Multiple Sclerosis and Ocular Melanoma

by Rachel Sindaco

Overview

From a Kick in the Head to a Kick in the Ass is a candid, often laugh-out-loud memoir about living with not one, but two life-altering diagnoses—Multiple Sclerosis and Ocular Melanoma. Rachel Sindaco invites readers into her world with striking honesty and resilience as she recounts a journey that is anything but predictable. Diagnosed with MS as a teenager, she kept her condition private for years, determined not to let it define her. Just when life seemed manageable, a routine eye exam revealed a second blow: rare and aggressive eye cancer. With unfiltered wit and insight, Rachel shares what it's like to raise a family, navigate medical mazes, and adapt to a body that doesn't always cooperate. She introduces us to the community that lifts her up—from her husband to her wisecracking support groups—and proves that even when life knocks you down, you can still rise up, sometimes with the help of a cane, and always with grace. This is not a guidebook for the chronically ill. Instead, it's a celebration of vulnerability and finding joy in the absurdity of it all. A story for anyone who's ever had to reroute—and laugh while doing it.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940184475332
Publisher:	Rachel Sindaco
Publication date:	07/22/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	440 KB

About the Author

Rachel Sindaco was first diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis in 1989, but due to her age at the time, it wasn’t until 2001 that her condition was officially identified as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Then, in 2011, she jokingly proclaimed she had hit the “Daily Double” when she was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma (OM). While many books have been written about MS—some by those living with the condition—Rachel felt compelled to document her own journey to highlight not just the challenges but also the humor, resilience, and hope that can exist alongside chronic illness. With MS and OM each presenting their own unique roller coasters, she knew her story could offer something different: a candid, often comical look at life with two rare diagnoses and the lessons learned along the way. After living more than 35 years with MS and over 14 years with OM, Rachel believes life is still very much worth fighting for. With a little creativity and a lot of determination, she’s found that the journey, though unpredictable, can still be fulfilling, joyful, and, above all, meaningful.