Insistent

A Traumatic Brain Injury. A Fluffy White Service Dog. A Fight That Changed Everything.

After a devastating accident left Joey Ramp-Adams with twenty-three broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and severe neurological impairments, she lost her ability to speak, understand language, and even function in the outside world. Isolated in a world of pain, confusion, and despair, she saw no way forward—until one soft-eyed Golden Retriever named Sampson showed her otherwise.

With Sampson by her side, Joey didn’t just rebuild her life—she rewrote the rules. Determined to understand the science behind her injury, she returned to academia to study neuroscience, becoming the first service dog handler to demand full access to scientific laboratories. Faced with systemic bias, discrimination, and doors slammed shut, Joey refused to back down. Instead, she and Sampson became a force for global change.

Insistent is a powerful memoir of resilience, advocacy, and the unbreakable bond between a woman and her service dog. Together, they shattered barriers, reshaped policies, and sparked a movement that reached from classrooms to Congress.

This is not just a story about survival—it’s a story about transformation, purpose, and the courage to challenge a system stacked against you.

Joey fought for her life. Then she fought for others. With Sampson leading the way, she proved that determination—like love—never gives up.