(June 2, 2026) Journalist, and patented inventor, Lisa F Crites, PhD (hc), will release her deeply personal and inspiring memoir, Beautifully Unbroken: A Life-Changing Invention Born of Loss, Cancer, Courage, and Faith. The book offers an intimate look into a journey shaped by profound loss, life-threatening illness, and the quiet determination to rebuild a life with purpose through innovation.
Crites’ story begins in a place many would struggle to navigate. The sudden passing of her mother, followed closely by a breast cancer diagnosis, placed her in a situation defined by uncertainty and emotional upheaval. While medical treatment addressed the physical aspects of her illness, the deeper process of healing unfolded in less visible ways. It was in this often-overlooked middle ground, after surgeries and during recovery, where her perspective on life began to shift.
Rather than presenting healing as a simple progression from illness to wellness, Beautifully Unbroken explores the complexity of what it truly means to recover. Crites writes with clarity and honesty about the emotional weight that lingers long after treatment ends. She reflects on moments of isolation, the loss of a familiar sense of self, and the challenge of finding strength when life no longer feels predictable.
What sets this memoir apart is not only its emotional depth but also its outcome. During her recovery, Crites identified a gap in patient care that is rarely discussed. Simple daily activities, such as showering after surgery, became sources of discomfort and vulnerability. Instead of accepting these limitations, she asked a question that ultimately changed her path. Why should I be required to shower in a plastic trash bag for protection? Why should recovery come at the cost of dignity?
That question led to the creation of The Shower Shirt™, a patented, water-resistant medical garment designed to help patients protect surgical sites while maintaining comfort and protection during recovery. What began as a personal solution has since grown into a widely recognized patented innovation, supporting patients around the world. The product stands as a testament to how lived experience can drive meaningful change when paired with determination and insight.
In Beautifully Unbroken, Crites connects this invention to a broader narrative about purpose. She does not present herself as someone who simply endured hardship, but as someone who allowed those experiences to shape a new direction. Her journey reflects a transition from survival to service, where personal challenges become the foundation for helping others.
The tone of the book remains grounded and accessible throughout. Crites balances moments of vulnerability with quiet strength, often using reflection and subtle humor to guide the reader through difficult themes. Her writing avoids dramatization, focusing instead on authenticity and emotional truth. This approach allows readers to connect with her story in a meaningful and lasting way.
The upcoming release is expected to resonate with a wide audience. For individuals facing illness, it offers reassurance that healing is not defined by timelines or expectations. For innovators and entrepreneurs, it demonstrates how real-world problems can inspire practical innovation and solutions. For general readers, it offers a thoughtful exploration of resilience, hope, conviction, and human adaptability.
Crites also emphasizes the role of faith in her journey, describing it as a steady source of guidance during uncertain times. Rather than presenting faith as a single turning point, she portrays it as a quiet presence that supported her through each stage of recovery and reinvention.
As the launch date approaches, Beautifully Unbroken stands as more than a memoir. It is a reflection on what it means to move forward when life does not return to its former shape. Lisa F. Crites offers a perspective shaped by experience, one that recognizes that being broken is not the end of a story, but the beginning of something new.
About Lisa F. Crites
Lisa F. Crites is an award-winning inventor and entrepreneur best known for creating The SHOWER SHIRT®, the first and only patented (U.S. Patent No. 8,516,613) water-resistant garment designed to help protect chest surgery patients while showering. Developed following her own breast cancer diagnosis and bilateral mastectomy, her invention was recognized for both its design and method of use. In 2015, she was named a winner of the InnovateHER Challenge, a national initiative honoring innovation that improves the lives of women.
Lisa’s work has been widely featured across major media outlets, including Forbes, The Huffington Post, Reader’s Digest, FOX News, CBS, NBC, CNN, and Lifetime Television’s The Balancing Act, where she has spoken about her invention as well as the proposed “Post Mastectomy Infection Reduction Act,” sponsored by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
A seasoned health and medical broadcast journalist, print columnist, corporate healthcare consultant, media strategist, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Lisa brings more than 30 years of experience in health and medical journalism, corporate communications, news issue management, and marketing. She began her television career as the original health and medical news anchor and reporter for Central Florida News 13 in Orlando. Her broadcast background also includes work with America’s Health Network (now Discovery Health), reporting for Success Central Florida on WCPX-TV (now WKMG Local 6) in Orlando, and serving as a feature reporter for the Travel Channel.
In addition to her on-air work, Lisa has served as a broadcast media coach for Gannett News Service and has worked as a medical television correspondent for CNTV and NADA-TV.
Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Barcelona, European School of Business, in Barcelona, Spain, and an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Media Communications from Kennedy University.
Beautifully Unbroken: A Life-Changing Invention: Born of Loss, Cancer, Courage, and Faith is now available on Amazon. Purchase your copy here: https://us.amazon.com/Beautifully-Unbroken-Life-Changing-Invention-Courage-ebook/dp/B0H3896BJT
Media Contact
Name: Lisa Crites
Email: lclisacrites@gmail.com
Website: www.lisashowershirt.com