There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after. For Craig H. Collison, M.D., that moment came during what was expected to be a minor surgical procedure. In Tattered Flesh, Resilient Spirit, Craig opens the door to one of the most vulnerable seasons of his life and invites readers to walk beside him through it.
This memoir captures far more than a medical crisis. It captures the unraveling of certainty, the rebuilding of strength, and the quiet endurance that surfaces when survival becomes the only goal. Written with honesty and clarity, the book offers a rare perspective from someone who understands illness from both sides of the hospital bed.
Craig was completing the final months of his pediatric residency when a routine surgery to remove a lipoma took a devastating turn. The surgical site became severely infected, leading to necrotizing fasciitis and myositis. Many know the term “flesh-eating bacteria,” yet few understand how swiftly it can overwhelm a healthy body. For Craig, the infection escalated into a life-threatening emergency that demanded immediate and repeated surgical intervention.
Inside the Hospital Walls
One of the most gripping aspects of Tattered Flesh, Resilient Spirit is its detailed account of the hospital experience. Craig shares the progression of his illness day by day, guiding readers through emergency surgeries, intensive care, organ failure, and the long road of rehabilitation. The writing feels immersive. It brings the beeping monitors, sterile hallways, and urgent medical conversations into sharp focus.
There is a unique tension in reading the reflections of a physician who suddenly becomes the patient. Craig understands every lab value, every complication, and every risk. That knowledge adds weight to each development in his condition. At times, awareness deepens the fear. At other times, it strengthens his resolve.
The memoir highlights the extraordinary skill and dedication of healthcare professionals who stepped in to save his life. Surgeons, nurses, therapists, and specialists worked tirelessly during the most critical hours. Craig speaks of them with gratitude and respect, acknowledging that modern medicine, when combined with compassionate care, becomes a powerful force.
Recovery did not arrive quickly. It unfolded slowly, often painfully. Physical healing required patience. Emotional healing demanded even more. The journey back to strength was not a straight line. It was marked by setbacks, small victories, and steady determination.
Voices of Love and Unshakable Support
What truly sets this memoir apart is the inclusion of bedside journal entries written by Craig’s wife, family members, and close friends. These reflections offer an unfiltered glimpse into the emotional toll of watching a loved one fight for survival. Their words are intimate and immediate. They carry the weight of uncertainty and the quiet strength of hope.
Michelle’s presence is especially moving throughout the book. As Craig’s wife, she stood beside him during every stage of the crisis. Her journal entries reveal fear, exhaustion, and unwavering devotion. She navigated hospital updates, family responsibilities, and the emotional strain of waiting without knowing what the next day would bring.
Through these personal accounts, readers see how illness ripples outward. It touches everyone connected to the patient. It changes routines, reshapes priorities, and deepens bonds. The support from friends and community members became a lifeline for Craig and his family. Meals, prayers, messages, and visits formed a circle of encouragement during the darkest hours.
The memoir gently reminds readers that no one fights alone. Even in moments of isolation, there are hands reaching in.
Faith, Reflection, and a Renewed Purpose
Faith weaves steadily through the pages of Tattered Flesh, Resilient Spirit. Biblical reflections accompany Craig’s medical journey, offering spiritual insight during times of doubt and uncertainty. His faith is presented as a source of stability when everything else felt fragile.
Craig does not present easy answers. Instead, he shares how trust in God provided comfort when medical outcomes remained unclear. Scripture became a foundation during moments when physical strength faltered. This spiritual dimension adds depth to the narrative, inviting readers to consider resilience beyond the physical body.
The book also includes a thoughtful appendix designed for patients and families navigating critical illness. This addition transforms the memoir into a practical resource. It offers guidance, encouragement, and perspective to those facing similar medical challenges.
Returning Home with a Resilient Spirit
Craig’s story does not end in the hospital. After many months of treatment and recovery, he returned home to central Pennsylvania with a renewed appreciation for life and family. He resumed his calling as a pediatrician, working first with Centre Medical and Surgical Associates and Mount Nittany Medical Center, now part of the Mount Nittany Health System. More recently, he transitioned to Mount Nittany Physician Group – Penns Valley to serve families closer to home.
He lives in Madisonburg with his wife Michelle, their children Taylor, Chase, Caroline, and Lydia, and their dogs Penny and Josie. Their home, known as “The Simon Pickel House,” dates back to 1833 and stands as a symbol of history and endurance. Outside of medicine, Craig enjoys football, volleyball, golf, playing guitar, and being present as a husband and father.
Tattered Flesh, Resilient Spirit is available on Amazon and offers readers a profound reminder that even when the body is pushed to its limits, the human spirit can rise stronger than before. More information about Craig and his work can be found at drcraigcollisonbooks.com.
We had the privilege of interviewing the author. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Hi, thank you so much for joining us today! Please share about yourself with our readers.
My name is Craig Collison, MD, and I am a physician, board-certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. I worked for a multi-specialty physician group doing inpatient and outpatient Pediatrics for 21 years, and for the last 5 years, I have worked as a Medical Director for Optum, as well as some other medical directorships. I live in Pennsylvania and South Carolina with my wife, Michelle. We have four children who are all grown and out of the house now. We had one son get married last year, and this year we have a son and a daughter both getting married, so this is a special time for our family.
Please tell us about your journey.
While I was finishing my pediatrics residency in the year 2000, I had a minor surgery that was infected with flesh-eating bacteria. With less than a 10% chance of survival, I was able to recover, but not without tremendous physical and emotional scars for me as well as my young family. Two and a half months in the hospital and 10+ surgeries were filled with pain and suffering, but our family, friends, incredible doctors and nurses, and our faith were able to bring us through. Though delayed, I was able to finish my training program and start my career, while learning so much as the doctor-turned-patient.
Please share about your book.
Tattered Flesh, Resilient Spirit is our personal story, as I survived and endured this infection with flesh-eating bacteria. It combines my insight as the patient and physician, as well as the raw emotions told through journal entries by my wife, Michelle, and others from during the ordeal. On top of everything else, Michelle was 6 months pregnant at the time with a two and four year old at home, and we had already sold our house, so in the midst of everything going on with me in the hospital, she and our family and friends had to find a new place to stay even after most of our belongings were moved to another state. Along with the drama of this horrific time, I explore our faith, from both of our perspectives, and how it was tested to the limits. This story is not sugar-coated, but an intense and real perspective on critical illness and how it affects the patient as well as the family and friends that go through it with them. I am honest about the questioning and testing of my faith, as my body was stressed to the breaking point, and how I came to grips with the scars and changes that I would have to live with for the rest of my life.
What strategies helped you become successful in your journey?
Michelle and I have both said that we don’t know how we could have survived this time without faith, as well as our amazing family and friends. Having that hope in a Savior was so important for us when it appeared that all other hope was gone.
Any message for our readers?
This story was meant to be shared, and we look forward to sharing it with all the readers. Putting the book together was truly the best therapy for me as I worked my way back through the illness, through the questioning and disappointments, to the acceptance and thankfulness for surviving something that no one would want to go through. This story is for all those going through a medical illness of their own or in a family member. This story is for all healthcare workers and demonstrates the incredible challenges that enduring an illness or staying in the intensive care unit brings to people, hopefully increasing their empathy towards their patients. This story is for those who have faith and for those who question it. Thank you to all those interested in sharing the ups and downs of this challenging time and our ultimate triumph over this terrible illness.
Thank you so much, Craig, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
