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    Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle
    Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle
    Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle
    Audiobook8 hours

    Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle

    Written by Ellen Rogers

    Narrated by Joyce Bean

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    A single mother of five, Ellen Rogers has endured her fair share of tragedy, having lost both her first husband and stepdaughter to cancer. But nothing could have prepared Rogers for the June 2005 car accident that left her son Ned-now twenty-five years old-a quadriplegic with a brain injury. The road to Ned's recovery was long and discouraging, but when Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled stepped in to provide him with a service animal to help him cope with his disabilities, things turned around. Kasey-an adorable, mischievous, fun-loving capuchin monkey-helped Ned and his family to see the world in a new way.

    In this extraordinary memoir, Rogers paints a vivid portrait of a large and loving family and the challenges that they face together. She shares the low points (the phone call that changed her son's life), the high points (the monkey play that led to Ned's increased mobility), and the strangely in-between (bathing Kasey in the kitchen sink) with equal parts heart and humor. The story of an ordinary family thrust into extraordinary circumstances, this inspiring book proves that old adage: where there's life, there's hope.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 17, 2010
    ISBN9781400189540
    Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle

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    Reviews for Kasey to the Rescue

    4/5

    133 ratings59 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Ellen Rogers' story of her son's tragic 2005 car accident (that left Ned a quadriplegic with a brain injury) could have been just another of those sad-but-true sagas that fill library shelves. This telling is, however, a cut above. The author is witty, perceptive and deft with words. Half of the book deals with Ned's trauma and the family's rallying around him and the rest centers on Kasey, the capuchin monkey-friend who is provided Ned by an organization, Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled. Miss Kasey jumps into this large and loving family with zest and ingenuity to be Ned's right-hand helpmate. A warm tale of despair blossoming into hope and engagement witih life, full-throttle, Kasey and Ned's story is a recommended read.
    • 3/5
      This mother's memoir of her son's devastating injuries is truly inspiring. When Ellen's son was 22 years old, he was involved in an horrific accident that left him with spinal cord injuries, major brain trauma and some organ damage. Ellen learns of Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled. This wonderful organization trains monkeys to assist the disabled in performing tasks that they are no longer able to perform. And, let's face it, who can resist a cute monkey. This is how Kasey came into Ned's life. Ellen describes the highs and lows of adjusting to Kasey in their home. There are many adjustments, but ultimately Ned and Kasey forge this bond and Ned regains confidence and some physical abilities.To me, the true hero of this story is Ellen. She demonstrates once again the extent of a mother's love. She is ready to move heaven and earth for her son. Amid the horrors and frustrations of her family's ordeal she proves that her mother's love is unconditional and that there can be joy even in the depths of despair.
    • 5/5
      As a recent member of Planet Motherhood, I identified with this book right from the beginning. Ellen Rogers is a divorced mother of five and former marketing executive who suddenly finds herself living a parent’s next-to-worst nightmare: her eldest son, Ned, is rendered a quadriplegic after a car accident while studying in college several hundred miles away from home. The whole family’s world is turned upside down without warning, and Rogers must include in her long list of responsibilities serving as a personal care assistant for her son. Amidst all the chaos of raising a couple of still teenage daughters and another son just starting college, while also caring for Ned, Rogers finds out about “Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled”, an organization dedicated to train and provide highly intelligent and sociable monkeys as helpers so that seriously disabled people can lead more independent lives. There’s a waiting list, however, and after almost a year of waiting and several situations that make everything seem harder, the family finally get Kasey, a highly trained monkey with a diva attitude to match. While learning the ropes of caring for this demanding little animal, and about the rigid social hierarchy of monkey world, this close-knit family of six (plus two dogs) must also learn that forging emotional bonds, even between animals and humans, requires time and patience. The strict routines into which the family must acquiesce in order to keep Kasey happy and functioning at a high level give much needed structure to a former improvising team. What shines through in this story is the fierce love among all the family members, including the teenage sisters, who sometimes can come across as spoiled brats. And that’s another excellent element of this book: the author does not try to make her children and herself seem more sympathetic than they really are. Her descriptions of Ned especially are by turns blindly adoring and objectively reported so as to make him look like a fussy child at best and like a neurotic nagger at worst. Even though the author does not give in to facile sentimentality, I found myself crying already in the first chapter. There are also quite a few good laughs though, so the book achieves some kind of understated balance. My only complain of this book is that sometimes it felt like the writer was on commission for the “Helping Hands” organization to write a book to attract a new batch of private donors to their cause, which is not bad in itself, just distracting. She does clarify that writing the book was her idea for taking care of all the accumulating medical bills and resolve the problem of her ever dwindling savings account.
    • 5/5
      I usually don't go for sad true stories--I'm more into happy ending fiction--but who can resist a book with a monkey on the cover! And although this true story had it's sad moments, it was a truly uplifting story of hope.
    • 5/5
      This was a very inspirational book, one that would be a perfect read for anyone who is disabled or knows someone who is. I know everyone doesn’t need a helper monkey (or dog), but everyone can benefit from having a pet in their life.Kasey was adorable, just look at that face!! I loved the way she interacted with Ned, and that she gave him so much more than comfort. It amazed me how his pain eased just by her being near.I loved how she had to make sure everyone in the house knew their (and her) place. That was the only way she could trust Ned and Ellen 100%, and know they were her “people”.Like the blurb says, Kasey sure was a diva! The story about the purse and mirror that Ellen bought her was priceless, and so was reading about her candy snatching.I didn’t think having a helper monkey would be so much work, but do think it would be well worth the time and energy. Her impact on the family, especially Ned, was priceless.Even though Ned and his mom were going through the toughest time in their life, Kasey was a very bright light in that darkness. I don’t think Ned would have recovered as well as he did without her.This book has been sitting on my tbr shelf for a long long time, and I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to get it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read something that is truly uplifting.Kudos to Helping Hands and it’s employees, and other organizations like them.
    • 5/5
      So those of you that read my reviews regularly know that I am an animal lover, so this book is an automatic favorite of mine. While the monkey obviously was a huge part of the story there was so much more to this book. This one was kind of in reverse for me emotionally, I normally cry at the end of a book - but this one had me crying right from the start. As Ellen makes her way to be with her son and she explains what happens, and what is going on in her mind I instantly began to tear up. I'm not a mother yet, so I can only imagine the rollercoaster that you go through emotionally when you find out your child has been seriously injured. The emotional connection was so strong for me with this book. It took me through fear, happiness, sadness, frustration, anger, joy, and contentment. I did love Kasey, he was always getting into mischief! Once Kasey was introduced to the story there was always something going on. However this was more of a story of a family trying to learn to live new lives in the face of a tragedy then it was a story about a monkey. Kasey becomes an integral part of the new lifestyle that Ellen and her family take on but there was so much more that the family had to deal with to become what they are now. This story is so touching. I really connected with Ellen and her family right from the beginning. I'd say that even if you aren't the animal lover that I am you would still enjoy this book so much!
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable read about how a helper monkey, Kasey, helps a family heal after a tragedy. Loved the emotions that played out in this book.
    • 3/5
      The story of how one helper monkey, Kasey, enters and changes the lives of Ellen Rogers and her quadriplegic son,Ned. I enjoyed the book overall, but at times found the author's presence annoying. Although it is clear that Kasey provides as an important source of emotional support for Ned,it's less clear to me how much actual physical support she provides. If you enjoy inspirational readings about facing and overcoming life's challenges this is a book you'll enjoy.
    • 5/5
      This was a very good read. At times a little confusing and fast paced, it mirrored the events Ms. Rogers and her family were living and feeling. It brought home the many unthought of situations of dealing with a handicap.It was great to learn of the Helping Hands program, which was a revelation to me. I did not know they existed.I would reccomend this book to anyone!
    • 5/5
      i kind of knew i would love this book from the start, i love monkeys. after being in a serious car accident leaving him paralyzed ned sullivan is physically weak but strong in heart and mind. he fights through all the doctors and therapies, but what comes next? a little miracle that will change his life forever. "Kasey to the Rescue: The Remarkable Story of a Monkey and a Miracle" is a wonderful story, filled with hope, courage, laughter, sadness and joy. i recommend it for all.
    • 3/5
      This book is a well-written story about loss, regrouping, starting over, and family love. Adding to the mix is a monkey! Enjoyable read, recommend it.
    • 5/5
      This book was very inspiring. The patience of all in the family was amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone!
    • 5/5
      I won this book thru Library Thing and I really did like it a lot. It was written by Ellen Rogers. This book was about her family’s life before and after the life changing accident of her son, Ned. The entire family made changes to accommodate Ned and how the girls found out about a service called Helping Hands which paired service monkeys with families. The family even had to make changes to their house to make it more wheel chair friendly. Ned gets paired with Kasey and I love the antics that the monkey does, it is very funny. I like that the author was not bitter about what happened to her son, but took it as a blessing. I loved the messages in this book and would highly recommend it to anyone.
    • 4/5
      This book was good. I really enjoyed learning about what this monkey did and learning about a new kind of helper animal. I think this book was well written and I know I will be reading this book many times!
    • 3/5
      I was expecting there to be more in the book about how Kasey was trained, what she could do, how she was taught. I was wrong. Most of the book was about Ned. The book was okay but I was just expecting Kasey to be the main focus of the book. The story about Ned and his recovery with his family was touching but I couldn't give more stars because I felt the book was misleading on what it would be about.
    • 4/5
      A wonderful true story. Sometimes these true stories written by the people involved can be a bit dry and not as much fun to read as fiction. But that's truly not the case here. Excellent flow and reads really well. GOOD BOOK!!!!
    • 3/5
      Rogers' son Ned became a quadriplegic in a car accident and she became his caregiver. When her daughters heard about Helping Hands, an organization that trains helper monkeys for disabled people, she became obsessed with the idea that this would be the thing to help distract Ned from his disabling nerve pain, not to mention perform tasks for him. She's a Type A personality who's just on the edge of being completely annoying throughout the book, but at least she can laugh at herself. She freely admits that her dream of the Magic Monkey who would solve everything was pure fantasy.(I actually knew about monkey helpers before reading this because at one time my mother in law wanted to get involved with training them. Strangely, my father in law wasn't enthusiastic about this and it came to naught. Recently someone pointed out that the TSA web site includes procedures for dealing with service monkeys, and tells agents not to touch them. But I digress.)Ned was matched with Kasey, a 20 year old Capuchin monkey, and they started the process of bonding and working together. It was a challenge. Everybody in their large family had to help, because monkeys live in a social hierarchy and Kasey needed to feel that Ned was #2 (after her) and everybody else was below him. Ned's teenage sisters, the family dogs, and his mom all had to change their behavior: when the dogs barked at the monkey, Ned would say "Good Kasey! Go get 'em, girl!" which made his sisters furious. They had to learn to help Ned by acting deferential to Kasey, which of course they hated. Rogers did all the care for her: preparing food just so, baths, trimming nails. For the first year it felt as though Kasey added more work, not helped.Over time, Kasey bonded with her man and not only helped him with tasks like bringing him beverages (I was going to say "drinks" which has a little different meaning - would be cool, though) ...anyway, her company did help Ned with his nerve pain and his speech, and things like playing catch with her helped him with mobility. By the end of the book he's regained a lot of his confidence and has taken Kasey to schools to tell kids about helper monkeys and about always wearing their bike helmets. He's also starting to think about what kind of work he might be able to do in the future, which had seemed impossible at the start.It's an inspirational book, which usually bores me to sobs, but it's not heavy on that. Rogers describes how the monkeys are trained, and the details of Kasey's care and how she and Ned came to be companions is interesting. I wish there was more about the tasks Kasey does for him, because she stresses how Kasey's companionship and bonding helped him.
    • 5/5
      I received this book as an Early Reviewer copy. Ellen Rogers has written a wonderfully heart wrenching and uplifting book. It is the story of the tragic accident of her son Ned and the remarkable journey taken by the Rogers family to create hope in the face of despair. I was deeply moved by Ellen's honest account of the details of such a life-changing event. Ellen Rogers writes in such an engaging way that the reader is drawn into the chaos and comfort of the Rogers family. She is open, honest, and real with her words. The story of Ned and Kasey, the Helping Hands monkey who changed their lives, will inspire many people who suffer such a spinal injury. More importantly, everyone who reads their story will be inspired to neer give up, regardless of the situation. Kasey to the Rescue is a tribute to the optimism of the human spirit. I encourage anyone going through a personal challenge of any kind to read this story of hope and love!
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed "Kasey to the Rescue". I found it heartwarming, as well as sad at times. I hope there will be more from Ms. Rogers.
    • 4/5
      2005 was a year to remember in their household but not for the many good things that could and would happen, but for a terrible tragedy that touched their lives. Ned Sullivan, Ellen's 22 yr old full of life son was in a car accident. The good news, he survived...the bad news, no one knew how long he would be able to hold on nor the quality of life he would live going forward. This is more than just the story of a man and his monkey (and yes, I realize how that sounds...wait for the explanation). This is the story of a family thrown a curve ball of staggering size and what they accomplished as a "team" to work through, nay overcome (to a certain degree) the obstacles stacked in their way as a result. From the eyes of a mother, Ellen Rogers takes on the role of author and shares the heart warming journey that her family (and extended family...including old and new found friends) has seen and lived through over the past view years. Each sunrise welcomes and sunset witnessed is a testament to their strength and willingness to do what needs doing in order to make the most of each and every day. Recommended reading for anyone seeking a look at a life being lived most remarkably as well as some great information on an organization I hadn't heard of previously....Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled. It's a rather interesting non-profit that aims to place specially bred, trained, and skilled capuchin monkeys with those suffering from spinal cord injuries or other mobility impairments; a cause certainly worth exploring. Happy reading....
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was sad in parts, but Kasey made me smile. It was amazing how Kasey was able to adapt to the family and all that was entailed
    • 3/5
      I thought this book would be more about Kasey and Ned, but it was about the whole family and how they deal with things thrown their way. It was interesting and i really enjoyed it. Hopefully there will be a follow up!
    • 4/5
      “Kasey To the Rescue” is a touching, occasionally sad, often funny and definitely moving story of a service monkey and the family the monkey helped. Sometimes I have a hard time getting into nonfiction books, but this held my interest all the way through. It was interesting to learn how these little monkeys can be trained to help those who are physically disabled. I would definitely recommend it.
    • 4/5
      KASEY TO THE RESCUEThis book first caught my attention when I found out that Kasey the monkey was a therapy animal. I didn't even know there was such thing as monkey therapists! This true story was so heartwarming cute. Animals are very important to us and this story illustrates how animals can impact and change our lives. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to all animal lovers.
    • 4/5
      This was a remarkable story. I had heard that monkeys were being trained to help physically challenged individuals but had no ideas of the capabilities for training that the capuchins had. The therapy that Kasey offered both physically and emotionally was awesome (and of course a lot of maintenance and 'walking on eggs!". At times, I was disturbed that the other family members put their lives on hold to cater to Ned's needs..his mother chose that but the younger children's were subservient even to the monkey! The outcome is of course wonderful and would not have been possible without Ned's determination and a team effort. Humor was most effective in adding levity to their story..my absolute favorite laugh out loud episode included Kasey and the gummy worms!!
    • 5/5
      What a delightful, honest book. I, as a mother of children who spent several weeks in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) don't wish to by any means say I understand what her life is like. I can say that having gone through ups and downs of the medical roller coaster I fully appreciate this mothers honesty in telling her story. Her job is tough but the reward of being able to care for her son trumps the toughness. I like that she is honest about the lows while still celebrating the highs. This story is tough to read, it is about a serious life altering experience,and to imagine what life would be like may be too much for some to think about- however the positivity and the strength of character of both the son and mother shines through.
    • 4/5
      This is a superb book. The author starts slowly, and builds into the issues quietly by interspersing the details of the accident and racing to be with her son, with descriptions of Kasey and her childhood and training. This gives us the chance to absorb the crisis, the urgency, without feeling as if we've been plunged into trauma, and introduces us to the two main characters in the book. After the first two chapters, then the book becomes more linear, describing the issues they were facing, and eventually introducing Kasey into their lives. Its just a truly wonderful, affirming, empowering book... describing not only the joys and difficulties of introducing and living with a monkey, but also the grit and determination of the two human heroes of the book, Ellen Rogers and her son Nate.
    • 4/5
      I had no idea that there were such things as therapy monkeys. Or that they could be so good at what they do. I have a great deal of repect for the author as a person and a mom. Being a mother is a daunting task in and of itself, without all that she, her family, and Ned are going through.I found this book to be both entertaining and educational. I'd recommend it to anyone.
    • 4/5
      I was happy to have this as an Early Reviewer's book. It was a quick ready, which is admirable for a memoir. I liked it a lot...I wish I'd have loved it. I would have liked to see photos, because I kept looking to the front of the book to connect with the monkey and Ned. I also would have liked to see less about Ms.Rogers and more about Ned's real struggles. Initially I thought..."Oh I'd love to train a monkey." Thank goodness the author then goes into the WORK involved in these little characters. I would've liked to see more detail about what Kasey does for Ned...this is glossed over, more toward the end, and I feel that is a major part of the story. Perhaps stories of successes they've had. I liked the family interaction and how it affected the other kids...but again...there was just something missing...and I think that something might have been more of Kasey and Ned's interaction.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book! I see the word heartwarming over and over to describe it, and that is the word that came to my mind. Instead of making the record of events maudlin, she added a bit of humor to lighten things up at times. I appreciate humor in the middle of chaos and heartbreak. Highly recommended for anyone.