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That Quiet Voice: A Memoir of Hope
by Cynthia René Doss

Overview


Doss’ memoir removes the veil from disease and survival in a fashion similar to Lucy Grealy’s Autobiography of a Face, allowing readers an important, intimate look at the complexities of family, seen through the lens of a clear-eyed narrator.  Her voice may be quiet, but it rings steady and true.

 -Shawna Kenney MFA, published author/journalist/essayist

 

As Cynthia sits by the side of her desperately ill sister, she attempts to give her the strength to recover by telling stories of their childhood.  The trauma of her sister’s illness casts a bright light on the dynamics of their family. Eventually, Doss is forced to confront her own long-held trauma, one she has never shared with anyone.  The book is written with loving honesty, and bears witness to what can be overcome when it can finally be revealed.

-Josephine Fitzpatrick, published author/editor/memoir instructor


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Description


After Cynthia Doss' sister suffers a severe Sickle Cell Anemia crisis sending her into a coma, their family is confronted with the devastating effects of the disease. Days after the two sisters return from an idyllic vacation in the Bahamas, Renatè is rushed to the hospital. Every day presents a new challenge for the medical team. Renatè's lungs fail, her liver fails, her kidneys fail and she has an infection unresponsive to antibiotics. The rollercoaster of events creates a cascade of emotions in Doss as she witnesses her sister's struggle. When a nurse tells her Renatè would be able to hear even though she was comatose, Doss begins to talk about their childhood in hopes that some shared memory would trigger a response. All the while, she wonders, had they done something in the Bahamas that exposed her sister to danger? Why did the Sickle Cell Anemia attack so many of her body's systems? How could she possibly face a world without her sister? Renatè's illness weighs heavily on her for years. It would be almost a decade before Doss is diagnosed with clinical depression yet she discovers the catalyst for her depression goes back farther in time than her sister's illness. She has to dig much deeper to unearth the true source of her depression. Deeply personal and beautifully written, That Quiet Voice: A Memoir of Hope is a testament to the strength of family bonds—especially when tested. It amplifies the whisper in all of us that tells us we are stronger than we think.
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About the author


Cynthia Doss is a freelance writer living in Southern California. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Kansas State University, a Master of Public Administration degree and Post-Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration from the University of Southern California, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills and a Creative Writing Certificate from the University of California Los Angeles Extension.
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Book details

Genre:BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Subgenre:Personal Memoirs

Language:English

Pages:116

eBook ISBN:9781543934434

Paperback ISBN:9781543929591


Overview


Doss’ memoir removes the veil from disease and survival in a fashion similar to Lucy Grealy’s Autobiography of a Face, allowing readers an important, intimate look at the complexities of family, seen through the lens of a clear-eyed narrator.  Her voice may be quiet, but it rings steady and true.

 -Shawna Kenney MFA, published author/journalist/essayist

 

As Cynthia sits by the side of her desperately ill sister, she attempts to give her the strength to recover by telling stories of their childhood.  The trauma of her sister’s illness casts a bright light on the dynamics of their family. Eventually, Doss is forced to confront her own long-held trauma, one she has never shared with anyone.  The book is written with loving honesty, and bears witness to what can be overcome when it can finally be revealed.

-Josephine Fitzpatrick, published author/editor/memoir instructor


Read more

Description


After Cynthia Doss' sister suffers a severe Sickle Cell Anemia crisis sending her into a coma, their family is confronted with the devastating effects of the disease. Days after the two sisters return from an idyllic vacation in the Bahamas, Renatè is rushed to the hospital. Every day presents a new challenge for the medical team. Renatè's lungs fail, her liver fails, her kidneys fail and she has an infection unresponsive to antibiotics. The rollercoaster of events creates a cascade of emotions in Doss as she witnesses her sister's struggle. When a nurse tells her Renatè would be able to hear even though she was comatose, Doss begins to talk about their childhood in hopes that some shared memory would trigger a response. All the while, she wonders, had they done something in the Bahamas that exposed her sister to danger? Why did the Sickle Cell Anemia attack so many of her body's systems? How could she possibly face a world without her sister? Renatè's illness weighs heavily on her for years. It would be almost a decade before Doss is diagnosed with clinical depression yet she discovers the catalyst for her depression goes back farther in time than her sister's illness. She has to dig much deeper to unearth the true source of her depression. Deeply personal and beautifully written, That Quiet Voice: A Memoir of Hope is a testament to the strength of family bonds—especially when tested. It amplifies the whisper in all of us that tells us we are stronger than we think.

Read more

About the author


Cynthia Doss is a freelance writer living in Southern California. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Kansas State University, a Master of Public Administration degree and Post-Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration from the University of Southern California, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills and a Creative Writing Certificate from the University of California Los Angeles Extension.
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