“I had charts with every appointment, every activity, color-coded by child. Everything under control. Sure, I had throbbing headaches and trouble hearing out of my left ear. I didn’t have time for this. I pushed myself harder. Finally, at the recommendation of the kids’ pediatrician, to whom I’d admitted not being able to hear, I squeezed in an MRI.”
Comedy is my love language, and Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan are two of the funniest. This is my CBR12 Book Bingo choice for “I wish…” because I would love to hang out with them! I just love being surrounded by funny people. Reading When Life Gives You Pears makes you feel that the Gaffigans are in the room with you. Jeannie’s ability to turn a horrifying crisis into a fun read is absolutely incredible.
When Life Gives You Pears is Jeannie Gaffigan’s reflection on her 2017 battle with a benign, yet dangerous, pear-sized brain tumor. With five children, Jeannie’s life was complicated enough, but when she finds out that her nagging ear problems are more than just allergies, she learns that her days of “controlling life” are over. With humor and transparency, Jeannie details her initial diagnosis, the challenging conversations she had with her children, going under the knife and not knowing if, when, or how she would wake up, experiencing the ICU unable to move or eat, and relearning how to do life.
If you’re feeling down during this pandemic and need a different perspective, this would be a great read. I can’t even imagine having five children, much less going through this health battle on top of it! Jeannie shows us that anything is possible with family, faith, and funny people.