Survivin' the Hand Life Dealt is a true story of a woman who understands what it means to be "special" and not the kind of special a mom refers to, but realizes it is highly overrated. It's not the type of family American Greetings Card or Hallmark advertise for. There isn't a dysfunctional greeting card section for those who don't have that "perfect" family. There is no card to send your dad who is in prison for drug trafficking or to your grandfather who killed your grandmother. It's a book that most people can relate to but is something rarely talked about. If you came from a home where drugs were present, domestic violence took place, child molestation occurred, experienced a failed marriage, murder of a loved one occurred, or had financial or major health issues then you can relate to this book. It talks about strong family ties, forgiveness, faith, and how I overcame all of those obstacles and continue to battle many of these same issues today. We are all vulnerable and subject to tragedy, loss, and at any given moment; life can change. My entire life changed with a medical mystery which meant the difference between life and death. How lucky do I feel? Should I just hold my hand or take the gamble? I learned there are some things in life I can't control so when I stumbled upon those occasions, the only thing I could do was control my response to the situation. As you will see from this book..... I could have been a victim but I chose to be a survivor. I could have just folded the hand I was dealt; instead I played my cards.