While I Breathe received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Susan M. Reynolds.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The title of the book is While I Breathe. It was published in January 2024.
What’s the book’s first line?
“It was a day no mother should ever experience.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
While I Breathe is the true story of how Susan, a first-time mother, and her baby fought together for survival.
A seemingly healthy pregnancy turned into a nightmare when Susan was rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section two months before her due date. Born weighing just two and a half pounds with a heart defect and Down syndrome, baby Ryan was given little odds of surviving his first few days. But he proved to be a fighter whose birth heralded the start of a tumultuous battle for survival.
In their quest to save Ryan’s life, Susan and her husband navigated a dizzying maze of hospitals, doctors, treatments, and endless setbacks – eventually finding themselves going head-to-head against the overreaching, all-powerful authority of the medical establishment itself, which tried to institutionalize Ryan against their will, leading to an attempted guardianship coup.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Every parent who buries a child wants that child to somehow live on, to be remembered, to be loved. I had always wanted to tell Ryan’s story, but I didn’t know if I had the wherewithal to revisit the pain and grief. It was a reading with renowned spiritual medium Rebecca Rosen that inspired me to dive in. My reading with Rebecca was my first ever with a medium and it must be stated that, at the time of the reading, there was not one iota about Ryan on social media – no photos, no stories – nothing. She provided facts she could not have known, and that is how I knew with certainty that Ryan was speaking to me. At the end of the reading, Rebecca told me, “Ryan wants you to write.” And so I did.
What’s the main reason someone should read this book?
People should read this book in the event they are ever in a similar situation, or have a family member or friend facing medical mistakes that forever alter the course of their lives, especially when it’s the life of their baby that is in peril. This book is a road map of what happens when wrong turns lead to misdiagnoses, and shares insights into how to advocate and fight like hell to protect and save the life of your child.
The following reader reviews offer additional perspectives on why to read this book:
“This is truly a remarkable story about both pain and immense love, and leaves you with a lot to reflect on in your own life.”
“The author, whose hands actually braved this story, takes us inside her world, through a time most can hardly imagine, and not only makes it real, but shows us the way she made it through.”
“In the tender pages of this beautiful book, I found solace, strength, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.”
“Please read this book… Susan’s journey and Ryan’s life was worth sharing and I am certain it will help others facing similar situations.”
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work in interior design and volunteer for the Melanoma Research Foundation.
What is the best and hardest part of being an indie?
The pride I feel in having written and published my book, independent of an agent and publisher, is immense. The hardest part is getting enough recognition to promote sales.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
While I Breathe is my first book. I am embarking on my next project, which is an exploration of society’s impact on the physical and emotional development of babies, adolescents, and adults with Down syndrome.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Be patient with yourself and with the process, give yourself grace, and stay the course no matter how hard it gets!