Trish - Byrnes, Patricia

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Résumé :
Patricia Byrnes's life began with being reared by deaf parents during an era when the deaf community was shunned rather than supported. Poverty, alcoholism, incest and poor parenting were the underpinnings of Patricia's life, leading to her own issues with alcohol. Eventually, with a 12-step recovery program, her life became a powerful, positive example to others. Her story is also a roadmap for change, and that was no easy task: the transition from self-loathing - the nemesis of the human experience - to self-love was painful but one that had to be taken in order to not only survive, but to also, finally, appreciate the gift she is and was created to share with others. Change is always possible… change is necessary. The author is a powerful example, demonstrating that a person can suffer from poverty, abuse, addiction, divorce and so much more and not only survive, but use adversity as a vehicle for growth, compassion and wisdom. -- MIGNON LAWLESS, Ph.D. What a brave and strong woman you are! You have spoken your truth, pure and unadulterated. I am truly humbled by your straightforward portrayal of such an incredible and painfully difficult life's journey. You have reached the place of forgiveness and understanding against all odds. May God continue to hold you close to His loving and merciful heart! -- JEANNEMARIE BAKER, R.N. Read TRISH not to look into Byrnes's struggles at a distance, but to take personally what the human spirit can do with whatever it is given. That is a blessed assurance that whatever challenges we face in our lives, we too can survive and overcome. -- SAMUEL DEIBLER, B.A., B.D. TRISH is a story of love, loss and longing told through the eyes of a girl who was forced into womanhood too early and a woman who somehow managed to retain the innocence of a girl. The impact of this beautiful book will linger long after you've turned the last page. Prepare to be changed. -- DARALYSE LYONS, author, speaker, coach From the Reflections of America series Modern HIstory Press www.ModernHIstoryPress.com

Biographie:
I was born and grew up in New York City. I lived in three of the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. In Washington Heights, Manhattan, there was a concentration of Irish and Italian immigrants, and just around the corner was Harlem with the African American population. As a matter of fact, the street where I lived was all Caucasian on one side and all African American on the other, and if you walked five streets west, you were in the Jewish neighborhood. Until I was in my teens, this mixture prevailed until the Latins started moving in; today, Washington Heights is all Latin. I was fortunate to have been exposed to this diversity, although everyone stayed in his/her specific designated area. My parents were first generation Irish and Italian, and because we lived with our Italian grandparents, our exposure was stronger towards that ethnicity.

I am the child of deaf parents - my father was also an alcoholic, and my mother suffered from depression. We lived with both poverty and a grandfather who was a tyrant too cheap to convert the house we lived in to have heat and hot water. I know full well what it's like to wash my hands and face every morning with cold water and to live in a cold, damp house. We also had no bathroom; a closet in the hallway with a commode and flusher was the extent of our bathroom. I didn't see a tub until I was fourteen and we moved to subsidized housing in Queens. Living in compromise was something my family and I were very familiar with.

When I share my growing-up years with people, they usually find it hard to believe. I'm sure there are many people who also lived without hot water and heat, but probably not in New York City! In addition to these inconveniences, there will probably be many people who identify with having parents who were different, such as those who are immigrants, which has its own challenges. My hope is for people to see the resilience and see themselves in this book.