Kristina Kelly

What do a car getting struck by lightning, a black thumb in the garden, a house full of absolutely perfect rescue pets, and a fierce passion for patient advocacy have in common? Me. It's totally me. What I lack in concentration (squirrel!), I make up for in storytelling and compassion for others. In 2019, my health suddenly turned—my body became an unwelcome science experiment. Determined to make sense of it all, I began documenting my journey: the shocking appointments, the cringe-worthy missteps, and the hard-earned victories. Along the way, I uncovered how deeply the healthcare system fails chronically ill patients and how to navigate it with resilience, grit, and just the right amount of humor. Fueled by sheer determination and a deep desire to help others, I immersed myself in learning to be a better patient, navigating the healthcare maze, and advocating for myself. How to Be a Badass in a Broken Healthcare System is the culmination of those hard-earned lessons, written to empower others to take charge of their health journey—preferably with a dash of humor and a lot of grit. When I’m not writing or advocating, I'm working in the garden, spoiling my fur babies, camping with my husband, or reading. And yes, if the audiobook didn’t give it away, I am from the Midwest.