Introduction

Rachel likes to think of herself as a nice Jewish girl, dedicated to doing what’s honorable, just as her parents raised her to do. But when her husband, David, survives a plane crash and is left with severe brain damage, she faces a choice: will she dedicate her life to caring for a man she no longer loves, or walk away?

Their marriage had been rocky at the time of the accident, and though she wants to do the right thing, Rachel doesn’t know how she is supposed to care for two kids in addition to a now irrational, incontinent, and seizure-prone grown man. But then again, what kind of selfish monster would refuse to care for her disabled husband, no matter how unhappy her marriage had been? Rachel wants to believe that she can dedicate her life to David’s needs, but knows in her heart it is impossible.

Crash tackles a pervasive dilemma in our culture: the moral conflicts individuals face when caregiving for a disabled or cognitively impaired family member.

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Excerpt

The next day, Lois saves my life.
It could be argued that I save my own life. I make the decision. But Lois opens the door, and I go through it. Her permission is my get-out-of-jail-free card.
I turn down Lois’s offer of a soda from the vending machine. We’re having a where-are-we-now-and-what’s-next meeting on an outdoor terrace at Valley Med. The fog’s lifted— it’s a lovely California early summer morning. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. Rachel Michelberg’s life was irrevocably changed by her husband’s plane crash and subsequent injuries. Has a dramatic, unexpected event ever affected you?
2. Have you been a caregiver? What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
3. At the time of the crash, Michelberg’s marriage was not going well, but she put the past aside to care for David. She decided not to be David's caregiver long-term, though. Her decision was brave, painful, honest, and difficult. Do you think modern American society expects caregivers to sacrifice their lives to provide care to ill family members? Do you think American society expects this of all caregivers, like mothers?
4. Michelberg faced multiple challenges in addition to caring for David—a terminally ill mother, traumatized kids, financial worries, and more. What do you think made her resilient? What makes anyone resilient?

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