Denice Patterson
RARE
A Life Interrupted By Extreme Pain
A memoir of pain, hope, and resilience
RARE is a raw and deeply personal memoir by Connecticut based author Denice Patterson, chronicling her life with Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Her journey explores the intertwining of chronic pain, motherhood, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Join Denice as she shares her story of resilience and hope.
“Rare is a jaw-dropping memoir—this unforgettable story illuminates the endurance of hope, the love of family, and the resilient fight for better days . . . A must read for anyone who lives with chronic illness, Rare is the absorbing account of survival you need to garner the will to keep going.”
—Jennifer Cramer-Miller, author of Incurable Optimist
“A portrait of perseverance.
Denice’s journey is a testament to the hope that can take root even in life’s most difficult seasons.”
—Amelia Johnson, author of Unacceptable
Rare is a captivating memoir that reveals the unimaginable pain one woman endured and the extraordinary resilience that carried her through.
Denice Patterson's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring and one I will never forget.
It's a powerful reminder that hope and healing sometimes appear in the most unexpected places.
—Crystal Carothers, author of Mind, Body Cancer: A Memoir
For fans of Brain on Fire, a former police officer and mom of young children tells her story of finding strength through her love for her family as she battles a rare and incurable chronic pain disorder, ominously and aptly regarded as the most severe pain known to humanity.
At thirty-nine, recently retired Denice Patterson looked forward to a future full of possibilities with the love of her life and young children. That is, until a coughing attack delivered a sudden shock of pain to her face so severe that it dropped her to her knees. The agonizing bolt of electricity lasted mere seconds. But the zaps kept coming, and soon, Denice was living in a constant state of dread.
Rare chronicles the emotional roller coaster Denice rode in the months following her diagnosis with a condition that causes a pain so ferocious and life-consuming that it’s earned the moniker “suicide disease”—while she searched desperately for a solution to her pain. Through countless doctors, multiple procedures, and catastrophic surgical complications, and in the face of unimaginable suffering, Denice’s fierce devotion to her family was often the only thing that gave her the strength to carry on and continue to advocate for herself.
A story of perseverance, resilience, and unbreakable love, Rare is a raw and inspiring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope—and one woman’s triumphant account of reclaiming her life.
Purchase RARE on February 16th, 2027.
Tell Us About Your Book
Hi! I'm Denice
Writer, advocate, and someone who knows what it's like to live with a chronic pain disorder.
I never dreamed of being a writer, that is, until life gave me a story too significant not to write about. That story is called trigeminal neuralgia. I'd never heard of it before being stricken with the affliction, but this rare pain disorder would go on to influence what was supposed to be my best yet most challenging years with my two young children.
During those years, sports photography became a passion of mine, a perfect distraction as I transformed beauty in motion into statuesque stillness through the eye of a lens. Playing the piano added to the much needed peaceful escape I sought.
Originally from Long Island, NY, my family and I now reside in a beautiful shoreline town in Connecticut.
I wrote my debut memoir, RARE, not just to raise awareness about trigeminal neuralgia, but to acknowledge the hardships that led me to honor the power of resilience, hope, and above all love.
Denice xo
About Trigeminal Neuralgia
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that delivers quick bursts of electric-shock like pain to the face, usually on one side. This type of pain is classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as TN1 or Type 1. Bilateral TN, pain on both sides of the face, occurs, though less frequently than one-sided TN.
For additional information, visit Facial Pain Association at facepain.org
What triggers Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Triggered pain is a defining characteristic of trigeminal neuralgia (TN1), where everyday actions can activate sudden, searing, and intense facial pain.
Triggers include:
Chewing, drinking, speaking, touching the face, brushing teeth, washing the face, a light breeze or strong wind, cold weather, smiling or laughing, sneezing and coughing, and the list goes on and on.
What is Secondary and Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs when TN is a symptom of an underlying condition or disease, namely, multiple sclerosis, for example.
Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia, or TN2, is a continual burning or dull ache in the face. Though episodes of sharp pain can be present at the same time.
