And behold a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17/ Douay-Rheims Bible)

REMEMBERING BRADLEY 

Well, that’s what friends are for.

As Patricia Marston White vividly recalls, it was due in large part to an in-depth conversation she had with a dear friend, Elder Joan Thaxter-Randall, who convinced her to compose an awe-inspiring book to honor the memory of her son, Bradley, who had down syndrome.

Generally, down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small packages of genes in the body, which determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth.”

“After my book coach with whom I grew up with in the Caribbean said to me one day, ‘Pat, you should write a book to honor those precious memories you have of your son,’” White told Making Headline News during a weekend interview. “I thought about it for a while, and it was a couple months later she was having a book challenge and the cost for doing a book in three months sounded great to me. So I decided to join, albeit I did not complete the book until approximately two years later as I was busy working on completing college and the COVID-19 came upon us. Thank God I finally completed my masterpiece.”

BUY WHITE’S BOOK: https://www.beyondthesunset.net/

The “masterpiece” to which she is alluding is My Extraordinary Son: The Triumph And Tragedies of Raising A Child With Down Syndrome, White’s highly-anticipated memoir that made its ceremonious debut in November 2022.

“Writing this book was no easy feat,” White, a New York City-based author, said. “After my coach, Elder Joan T. Randall, encouraged me to do it, God said, ‘Yes,’ do it. ‘He had given me the green light.

As White explained, her motivational for writing My Extraordinary Son: The Triumph And Tragedies of Raising A Child With Down Syndrome was “first and foremost to honor my son,” she told MHN.

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“And those mothers caring for children with special needs, and also it was to let people know that no matter what they have been through or are going through, things can change in their life, but they have to persevere and fight for that change,” White said. “There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. They cannot give up hope.”

A book that is accompanied by 148 pages in length, White’s My Extraordinary Son is suitably deemed as an alluring portrait of a mother and whom she describes as her “differently abled son,” whom she loved unapologetically.

“Patricia White recounts the four magically challenging years spent caring, nurturing, and celebrating her ‘Sonshine,’ Bradley, who brightened the burrows of her life,” said a spokesperson for White’s featured book via Amazon.com. “This memoir captures snapshots of a young single mother’s sacrifices and a delightful little boy who brought music and light to the lives of all those who had the privilege of meeting him.

“Through her triumphs and tragedies, this resilient mother paints a picture of her little king’s journey of shining through down syndrome, a heart condition, and other medical challenges. She beautifully portrays themes of unconditional love, parental sacrifice, caring for a differently abled child, infant mortality, grief, and life after losing her love child. Patricia’s story will melt, enlighten, and soothe your soul.”

As White recalls, it wasn’t until after Bradley’s passing that she subsequently found herself writing on a regular basis, sometimes during late-night hours.

“I would be up at nights writing letters to him, telling him about the activities of that day and how much I missed him,” White explained. “This was part of my grieving process. Writing these letters brought me some level of comfort. I did not sit and write every day. There were days, months, and years I did not write anything — here and there would be a letter to Bradley — and I decided to compile the book in 2020 after my Coach Elder Joan T. Randall encouraged me to become intentional and complete the book.”

To her credit, White’s memoir was completed last year, thus leading to her authorship debut last fall.

“The divine message (through this book) is that when you feel all alone, hopeless, and helpless and it seems everyone else is oblivious to your pain, there is a God Who will comfort you and give you the peace you need to continue on your journey,” White said. “Secondly, with or without a loved one, you cannot go under as life goes on, and there is work for you to do. God is not finished with you yet. He is just starting.”

RECALLING FOND MEMORIES 

Interestingly enough, White said since Bradley’s demise, she enrolled in at the City University of New York, where she acquired an undergraduate degree in Biology.

In addition, she has produced her sophomore book project, this one as a co-author for Joy 365, an anthology that is spearheaded by Visionary Author, Dr. Vernessa Blackwell.

“We all have had to make detours in this life,” White said. “I had plans to do other things with my life and God used my son to re-route me. It is my decision to advocate for these children born challenged. I intend to be a voice for their parents who do not have a voice.

“We all have a voice, but some voices are silenced because of fear and pain. While I was with the Brooklyn Parent Advocacy Network, I advocated for the mothers who could not get their supplies to care for their little angels. We gave them fruits and vegetables. On the weekends, we would meet and have a session. The president of the group would ask questions and she would work with the social workers to assist these parents with their personal needs. I gave complimentary copies of my book to parents caring for a child with special needs.

“My book will encourage them to do what is necessary for their child to develop to their optimal level,” White continued. “For those who feel fearful, it will give them strength and encouragement they need to go forward in caring for their child.”

Just as it has done for her.

Thanks in large part to the inspiration of a dear friend.

For more information about New York City  Author Patricia Marston White, or to schedule her for a public appearance, book signing, or speaking engagement, connect with her via social media under: Facebook under “Patricia Marston.” Send email to: patwhite0728@gmail.com.

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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.

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