“When You Know Something Is Wrong and No One Listens” with Rikki Jo Neyer
All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton, were honored to welcome author and caregiver advocate Rikki Jo Neyer and her mother, Elena Bindas, for an extraordinary conversation about their nearly nine-year journey through a devastating medical mystery, the realities of family caregiving, and a daughter’s determination to find answers.
When a steel truss struck Elena at work, the resulting traumatic head injury changed her family’s life forever. Over the next eight years, Elena experienced debilitating symptoms as medical professionals searched for answers. Diagnoses included depression, a movement disorder, and chronic pain, but none fully explained her condition.
Throughout those years, Rikki served as her mother’s primary caregiver and advocate. She navigated medical appointments, unanswered questions, and the emotional toll of watching someone she loved struggle with an illness no one could fully explain.
Refusing to give up, Rikki continued researching her mother’s symptoms and eventually identified information about catatonia following brain injury. After eight years, five months, and eight days, one dose of an appropriate medication brought about a remarkable change in Elena’s condition.
During this deeply personal conversation, Rikki and Elena share the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, the toll of prolonged medical uncertainty, and the importance of listening to family caregivers whose observations may hold vital clues. Their story highlights the power of persistence, advocacy, and hope.
The episode also explores Rikki’s memoir, “Do You Believe in Miracles? Our Journey Out of Darkness and Into the Light,” which chronicles their experience and shares resources for families, including information about the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale and questions to raise with healthcare professionals.
More than a memoir, the book tells a story of love, faith, perseverance, and the bond between a mother and daughter. It explores the emotional exhaustion of caregiving, the strain on family relationships, and the struggle to be heard when medical answers remain elusive.
Written with Elena’s blessing, Rikki’s book aims to raise awareness of catatonia and help other families access information that might prompt earlier conversations with qualified medical professionals.
For caregivers who feel unheard and families searching for answers, Rikki and Elena’s experience offers encouragement and a reminder that their voices matter.
About Rikki Jo Neyer:
Rikki Jo Neyer is a first-time author, classically trained singer, and caregiver advocate from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
For nearly nine years, she served as the primary caregiver and advocate for her mother, Elena Bindas, following a traumatic head injury that caused years of debilitating, unexplained symptoms.
Despite numerous medical evaluations, Rikki continued searching for answers. Her research led her to recognize the possibility of catatonia following brain injury, helping change the direction of her mother’s care.
Their journey inspired Rikki to advocate for catatonia awareness, better recognition of complex conditions, and greater support for family caregivers. Through her writing, she hopes others will feel empowered to ask questions, share observations, and seek appropriate medical evaluations.
About “Do You Believe in Miracles?:
“Do You Believe in Miracles? Our Journey Out of Darkness and Into the Light” is Rikki Jo Neyer’s memoir about her mother’s workplace injury, years of medical uncertainty, and their family’s determination to find answers.
Published by Lucid Books in 2026, it recounts the sacrifices of caregiving and the impact of a condition that went unrecognized for years. The book also introduces readers to catatonia and the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, a clinical assessment tool families may discuss with healthcare professionals.
Through honesty and compassion, Rikki offers a resource for caregivers and families confronting difficult, unexplained medical circumstances.