THE AUTHOR

Kenneth Kerns thrived in high-pressure environments, leading teams and solving complex problems before his stroke. His career spanned multiple universities, and he took great pride in being driven, organized, and committed to excellence. Everything changed in April 2020 when he woke up from a ten-day coma to a body he barely recognized.

Writing Anything but Frank has been a long journey—one that began in a hospital room as the author relearned not just how to move and speak, but even who he was.

People often ask him where the title came from. The answer is a little funny, a little scary, and very real.

During his recovery after a stroke, a nurse repeatedly called him “Frank.” But his name was Ken. In his confused state, he thought perhaps he had died and come back as someone else.

Then the nurse said, “Good news—you’ll get to FaceTime your wife tonight.” Panic set in. He became anxious as he thought, “what if it’s Frank’s wife I see on the screen? What if I don’t even like her?”

So it was with immense relief that, when the call came through, it was indeed Ken’s wife—his wife—waiting for him. That moment stayed with him. It was disorienting, funny in hindsight, and deeply human. And that’s why he titled his memoir Anything but Frank—a reminder of how fragile identity can feel, and how much joy there is in finding one’s way back to oneself.”