Discover Shari's Inspiring Journey of Empathy and Resilience
Shari's
Story
From Dream Fulfillment to Life's Unexpected Turn
Hi I’m Shari Bookstaff, a tenured marine biology professor in the vibrant city of San Francisco, who had seemingly achieved her childhood dreams. But things were not that straight forward. My life took an unforeseen turn when sporadic dizzy spells and nausea unveiled a benign brain tumor. What I anticipated as a "routine" surgery turned into a prolonged ordeal, with a 9-day hospital stay stretching into 9 months of grueling rehabilitation.
A stroke post-surgery left me grappling with the loss of fundamental abilities – breathing, eating, talking, hearing, and moving. I was moved to a rehabilitation center away from home. My indomitable spirit found solace in the love of my 12 and 8-year-old children. My journey, chronicled in the book ‘When Life Throws You Lemons…Make Cranberry Juice!‘, is a testament to the transformative power of determination, hard work, and positivity in the face of tragedy.
Read more about how Shari overcame obstacles—and learned to accept life's cranberries in spite of life's lemons.
When Life Throws You Lemons… Make Cranberry Juice! is the powerful true story of Shari Bookstaff, a teacher, mother, and marine biologist whose life was turned upside down when a brain tumor left her fighting for survival and recovery. With honesty, humor, and resilience, Shari shares her journey through brain surgery, complications, and the long road of rehabilitation. More than a medical memoir, the book is about transformation—learning to embrace change, find strength in vulnerability, and discover new meaning in life’s unexpected challenges. Shari shows readers how she turned tragedy into triumph, finding ways to live fully, teach others, and inspire hope. Her story is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the surprising ways empathy and positivity can heal both body and spirit. At its heart, this is not just a survival story, but a celebration of life, courage, and the ability to create joy—even when the recipe seems impossible.
See those boulders behind us? Those are elephant seals!
15 min