"Part memoir and part instruction manual, Natalie Zeleznikar's medical journey is a case study for how we can best manage our own medical situations by seeking advice and advocating for ourselves and our loved ones." —Katy Grainger, sepsis survivor, speaker, and advocate, Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors

With thirty years of experience as a nursing home administrator, Natalie Zeleznikar was no stranger to the strengths and limitations of health care. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, the plan was a double mastectomy and a couple months to recovery.

Her reality was eight total hospitalizations in five years after nearly dying—not of cancer but of sepsis.

With a unique perspective blending the experiences of a patient and a health care worker, The Scars You Can't See follows Natalie's journey of struggle and survival.

This breast cancer memoir offers empathy, healing information, and advocacy to support those on a path to recovery. The Scars You Can't See is also a valuable resource for loved ones wondering how to support someone with cancer, offering an essential window into the roller coaster of emotions a patient faces.

Bridge emotions and healing beyond the physical scars of surgery. Once we rip the bandages off, the real healing begins.

"Natalie's valuable perception as a health care professional and as a breast cancer survivor is sure to help others who have been through a similar experience know they are not alone." —Laura Lummer, breast cancer recovery coach

NATALIE ZELEZNIKAR is a writer, CEO, and survivor of breast cancer and sepsis. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and operated nursing homes and assisted living centers for thirty years. In 2004, she cofounded an alternative option for seniors with higher need care who desired a home-style care community. She currently lives in Duluth, Minnesota, with her husband of twenty-nine years; she has two grown sons and a daughter-in-law.

"Part memoir and part instruction manual, The Scars You Can't See masterfully uses Natalie Zeleznikar's harrowing medical journey as a cautionary tale and case study for how we can best manage our own medical situations by seeking advice and advocating for ourselves and our loved ones." - Katy Grainger, sepsis survivor, speaker, and advocate, Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors

"Natalie's story is raw, honest, and motivated by heartfelt compassion. Her valuable perception as a health care professional and as a breast cancer survivor is sure to help others who have been through a similar experience know they are not alone." - Laura Lummer, breast cancer recovery coach