Joan Ryan's son was never an easy child.  Ryan's sporadic outbursts, tantrums, and academic challenges caused more than just anxiety for Joan;  they regularly shook her confidence in herself as a mother.  All of the difficulties with her son suddenly fade into insignificance when a seemingly commonplace skateboard tumble results in a devastating brain injury. With family and friends rallying around Joan and her husband Barry, the once sturdy and boisterous Ryan suffers repeated setbacks.  While Ryan's physical well being is on a perilous roller coaster and he checks into Marin General Hospital, UCSF's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and the Kentfield Rehabilitation Center, his parents' faith in him rarely falters, despite unfavorable odds.

Ryan's numerous setbacks throughout his recovery are staggering, but what is probably most surprising and inspiring is his unrelenting positive attitude.  Even when those around him are struggling with his condition, Ryan regularly takes it upon himself to cheer them up. Though Ryan's accident brings about challenges that no parent ever imagines enduring, mother and son grow closer then ever before. The Water Giver is a heartwarming story of one family's growth through an unexpected tragedy.

Laura G.

The Water Giver: The Story of a Mother, a Son, and Their Second Chance (Hardcover)

By Joan Ryan

$24.00

ISBN-13: 9781416576525
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Simon & Schuster, 9/2009

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