Eye Opener Press
Featured Author - Brenda E Smith
Coming in June 2026!
Stiff But Not Broken
"A powerful window into the lived experience of stiff person syndrome, told with honesty, courage, and remarkable clarity."
Amanda L Piquet, MD FAAN
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What happens when your own body becomes your greatest obstacle?
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In this powerful medical memoir, Brenda Smith shares her extraordinary journey from fearless world traveler to patient battling one of the rarest autoimmune diseases in the world—Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
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Once a globetrotting adventurer who braved remote jungles and ventured deep into high-altitude caves, Brenda never anticipated her body's inexplicable betrayal. As SPS took hold, her muscles became so tight that she could no longer walk. Her world shrank from boundless landscapes to the confines of her home.
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Until an unprecedented opportunity came her way—to join an experimental medical trial using CAR T-cell therapy—the first of its kind designed to restore mobility for SPS patients.
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Her story reveals an unflinching account of risk when there were no guarantees, being one of the first to undertake this revolutionary approach. Through chemotherapy, cytokine storms, and moments of genuine fear, Brenda bravely stepped into the unknown.
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This inspirational story of resilience proves that even when the body falters, the human spirit does not.
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Becoming Amazed
Don’t just read about adventure—experience it.
Brenda’s adventure memoir, Becoming Amazed, will sweep you off your feet and plunge you into a world where the thrill of the unknown reigns supreme. Her journey began with a heart-pounding initiation—rafting and mountain climbing through the untamed Tanzanian wilderness chronicled in her book Becoming Fearless: Finding Courage in the African Wilderness. What started as a step outside her comfort zone soon became an insatiable quest for the extraordinary, pushing her to explore some of the most remote and breathtaking corners of the globe.
From Bolivia’s rugged landscapes to Ethiopia’s hidden tribal territories, from the enigmatic villages of Pakistan to the leech-infested forests of Sri Lanka, Brenda’s escapades are both awe-inspiring and terrifying. She confronts everything from a revered idol exacting mysterious revenge to navigating eerie two-dimension spaces. The stakes reach their zenith in the brutal murder of a friend by terrorists—a moment that forces Brenda to reckon with the harshest realities of the world she craves to explore.
Through every trial, Brenda gains profound insights, emerging stronger, braver, and more enlightened. Her stories are an adrenaline-packed blend of daring exploits and deep reflections, perfect for fans of Eat Pray Love, Wild, and Tracks.
Becoming Fearless
Best Non-Fiction Travel Book 2023 by Reader Views
In Becoming Fearless, Brenda Smith reluctantly embarks on a life-changing adventure, facing twelve days of rafting through a Tanzanian game reserve teeming with angry hippos, roaring lions, and stealthy crocodiles, followed by a daring climb up Africa’s tallest mountain. Amidst the extreme heat and bone-chilling cold, her greatest challenge isn’t the wilderness—it’s the courageous inner journey that transforms her.
This inspirational true story reveals what’s possible when you step out of your comfort zone and into the wild.
