Listen To Me: How My Down Syndrome Brother Saved My Life by Lynne Podrat
Publisher: LP Press (August 19, 2021)
Category: Non Fiction, Memoir, Special Needs, Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Siblings
Tour dates: March 14-April 14, 2022
ISBN: 978-1737666806
Available in Print and ebook, 128 pages
Description Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat
This memoir was written to honor my youngest brother’s influence over my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly of living with a Down Syndrome sibling. It tells the story of the children in my family, despite our parents’ frailties, remaining committed to each other through life’s many changes and separations. Who I am today is directly related to the who I needed to become.
My Thoughts Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat
In the late 1980’s-early 90’s I went back to university and changed my major from accounting to social work and literature. I quit my accounting job and took a huge pay cut to work in a group home with four guys who had a developmental disability. I worked full time and went to school full time, burning the candle at both ends.
I loved working in the group home and was especially close with one of the guys, Bruce, who happened to have down syndrome. We went to aqua fit together every Saturday. Even when I graduated and got a job, I went most Saturdays to visit the guys and go with Bruce to the pool. Bruce is no longer with us but I still think of him often.
Flash forward to 2022 and I received an email from Lynne Podrat, asking if I could help her put together a virtual book tour for her memoir, ‘Listen To Me: How My Down Syndrome Brother Saved My Life.’ Of course, I jumped at the chance, this is not just business but personal and near and dear to my heart. So, I also agreed to read the book and post a review. Note: even though I do review books for tour that I coordinate sometimes, I only post fair and balance reviews. If I love it, like it, or hate it, I share that in my reviews. I am only paid to coordinate tours, not to review books.
When I first started reading, ‘Listen To Me’, I was fist shocked to learn that Lynne’s brother’s name was Bruce as well. What a coincidence! It turned out Lynne and Bruce enjoy doing some of the same things Bruce and I did together. Reading books, listening to music, writing, etc. However, that is not why I am highly recommending this book.
I recommend it for the beautiful writing and tribute to a man that seemed to live larger than life, despite his disability! Even when he had to go through kidney dialysis, he seemed to do so with grace. I believe much of that has to do with Lynne’s dedication to him. She was 13 years old when Bruce was born. Her parents told her that they he was not coming home but instead was going to live in a state-run institution. Please don’t judge them for this. Back then doctors strongly recommended it and said it was for the best.
Lynne urged them to bring Bruce home and she even went to her grandparents and begged them to help. They did intervene and they helped raise Bruce, at home. I can’t help but be in aw of Lynne, as a teenager to take such a protective interest in her little brother! She then followed through and really helped him and shared a special bond with him throughout his life. He passed of pancreatic cancer in 2017.
5/5 stars!
I received the eBook for my honest review.
About Lynne Podrat
Lynne Podrat graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and then spent fifteen years in the Fashion Industry as an Assistant Buyer and Department Manager with Bloomingdales Department Store before returning to school to receive her educational degrees from Arcadia University and Gynedd Mercy.
A retired educator and Administrator from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania School District, she taught English, literature, composition and history in elementary and secondary schools.
She has secretly been a writer and poet her whole life, but has only recently chosen to share those talents with the world. Lynne now lives with her husband in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, spending winters dragon boating where her heart races and summers hiking the Rockies in Vail, Colorado where her heart sings.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynne.podrat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnepodratwrites/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lynne_podrat
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Giveaway Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat
This giveaway is for 3 print copies, one for each of 3 winners and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on April 15, 2022 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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Doing social work would have to be one of the most challenging careers. It would be really interesting to see the differences, the unique abilities in people who face various challenges.