Overview

When trauma shattered Jodi's carefully constructed identity as a successful medical doctor, wife and mother, she is forced to confront grief, fractured relationships, stigma around mental health and the devastating cost of relentless self-sacrifice. Then Benni arrived. Benni: The best medicine has paws is a powerful true story of survival, healing and the extraordinary bond between a woman and her assistance dog. As Jodi navigates PTSD and the quest to rebuild her life, Benni becomes her anchor. This furry angel offered intuitive support, unconditional love and a pathway back to safety, purpose and peace. Through their journey together, Jodi discovers that healing doesn't come from fixing what's broken, but from learning to listen, slow down and reconnect with herself and the world around her. Benni teaches lessons no textbook ever could: presence over perfection, compassion over judgement and strength through vulnerability. Honest, hopeful and deeply inspiring, this book challenges how we think about mental health, recovery and resilience. It is for anyone who has faced darkness and wondered how to keep going. Because sometimes, the most powerful medicine doesn't come in a prescription - it walks beside you on four paws.

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9781764372428

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Reviews

When Jodi asked me to review her memoir, I felt deeply honoured. Having had the great fortune of getting to know her many years ago, her joyfulness, intelligence, ability to love deeply and her hard-earned wisdom have been a source of inspiration and encouragement ever since. Naturally, I was eager to read her memoir - to see her life unfold from her own perspective. And the book didn't just meet my expectations - it exceeded them. Jodi's voice throughout her memoir feels completely authentic and unguarded. She doesn't shy away from the darkness - she writes with honesty about her great achievements despite her very challenging start in life but even more so about her lowest points, her vulnerabilities and the rawness of her pain. That candidness makes her story so very human and so relatable. In sharing her story with such honesty and heart, Jodi offers more than just a memoir - she offers solace, inspiration and a reminder that second chances are possible. For me, it was a moving, beautiful read, a reminder that pain doesn't have to define us, a powerful testament to resilience, love (between people and also dogs!) and healing. If you're drawn to real-life stories of pain and recovery, of struggle and renewal - this one will stay with you. Nele Dumpert, Fachärztin für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, OBGYN Being an obsessive reader of every genre, I approached Jodi's book Benni with healthy scepticism - was this to be another tale of misfortune, self-discovery and recovery? The answer is a resounding ""NO"". From the outset, I found myself mesmerised, not only at the unbelievable saga of trauma, which, in itself, made for page turning amazement, but at the realisation that each step in Jodi's life to date has been a vital ingredient in her pathway to self-acceptance, self-love and ultimately fulfilment. The title Benni seems somewhat perplexing until the latter part of the book. Benni is not only an essential character, but she is symbolic of the path to recovery and finding life's meaning in what can only be described as a circuitous and tortuous road. Jodi's writing is extraordinarily transparent, giving the reader a rare and honest insight into her very soul, even when delving into her often tragic but ultimately joyful life. She does not shy away from negative appraisals of her journey. I often cried, but not from sadness. I laughed, but not from amusement. I was often perplexed, as to how one person's strength and resilience could evolve so completely. And finally, I rejoiced and experienced true awe of Jodi's continuing compassion, ability to love and forgive others -[JP1] [JP2] and herself. I met Jodi when I was training in obstetrics at a relatively advanced age. Jodi, despite her own massive challenges, mentored and encouraged me to keep going, in the face of what I personally experienced in my professional life as bullying, ageism, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, imposter syndrome and misogyny. Her positivity and words of wisdom inspired me and have become some of my mantras in my now successful career. I still recall her words: ""How you deal with a woman's pregnancy loss will affect her until the day she dies."" I take this compassion with me every day, and it has made me a better doctor. Jodi's wonderful book helps one to heal from trauma and find inner peace. Jodi - and Benni - have altered my view of life, relationships and even death in a positive way. You, the reader, will never be quite the same person again. Dr Vivienne Tudeschi MBBS (hons), CWH, DRANZCOG Advanced

Author Information

Jodi-Maree Cronin is the director of Dogz 4 Life and founder of Canine Integrative Relational Therapy.A retired doctor, medical manager and educator, she now specialises in assistance dog training and animal-assisted therapy.With qualifications spanning medicine, counselling and animal behaviour, Jodi brings an empathetic, evidence-based approach to supporting people impacted by trauma and life challenges. Her work is guided by a deep belief in the healing power of the human-animal bond.

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