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Tiny Titan - One Small Gift
Author Ann Yurcek was 'just' a mom when her story begins with the birth of her daughter Becca. Becca surprised everyone with a rare genetic disorder called Noonan's syndrome. As Becca struggled to survive her family plunged into poverty. Their remarkable journey out of poverty is a story of it's own, but within the pages lie secrets much more important we all should know. Tiny Titan by Ann Yurcek launches a new kind of Mother’s Day story for all the countless mothers in America who dedicate their lives to exceptional children with special medical and mental health care needs. The story and the children are real. BOOK ONE - BECCA'S STORY In 1989, the Yurceks sixth child, Becca was born with a rare genetic disorder, and while she struggled to survive, her family tumbled into poverty. This is the true and inspirational story of their journey out of poverty and the many miracles they received along the way. BOOK 2 - GIVING BACK In the spirit of giving back, they adopted and reunited five siblings separated in foster care. And for their new children they fought for resources in mental health and child welfare with the same tenacity they had fought for Becca in the medical world. Others' said their journey was impossible, but they proved them wrong. Winner Gold Mom's Choice - Best Adult Non-Fiction 5 Star Dove Award Books & Authors - Best Inspirational TINY TITAN SAMPLE CHAPTER By Ann Yurcek -9- Christmas I sunk into despair. The holiday was fast approaching and Christmas was the last thing on our minds with Becca critically ill in the PICU and everyone else sick too. There was no money for gifts, and there was no time to buy or make anything. I was sick, tired and depressed over the circumstances we found ourselves in. If the phone rang, I was afraid to answer it because it might carry the news that Becca was worsening or no longer here. The phone was a constant reminder of trouble. It rang with bill collectors waiting for money. It rang when medical personnel had more dreaded news or another crisis for Becca. My emotions rose and fell like tidal waves, up, up, up and down, down, down. I tried not to think; not thinking was how I coped. It was like the stairs I ran at the hospital, up and down, and then I’d stop and sit, empty and mindless. I could not think about my children going without gifts at Christmas, but our lives were impossibly out of control. We had fallen into a dark hole due to no fault of my innocent children. At any moment they were going to lose their new baby sister. They were caught in the tidal wave of catastrophic illness when they needed a Santa most to give them hope. How would I explain to my children that Santa forgot them? I was used to planning ahead and beginning in July bought two presents each month to cover birthdays and Christmas. Over the years my frugal plan had worked flawlessly. I squirreled away the hottest toys for Christmas gifts with early season purchases. While other families were school shopping I was making wishes come true. It was a challenge to make my kids birthdays and Christmas memorable. I love the holidays and I began to bargain shop for Marissa’s September birthday gift. I budgeted a little each month until Christmas, finding sale and clearance treasures, completing my shopping race under budget. In November we celebrated Jim, Nathan and Ian’s birthdays followed in December by Matt’s birthday, and then Kristy’s birthday in early January. The gifts I bought with Jim’s carpet points guaranteed the boys November birthday gifts. Matt at age three was easy; all I needed was something big. Big for my little kids were exciting and ten dollars went a long way. Other than that I had nothing.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
18 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 28, 2016
Review: Tiny Titan by Ann Yurcek.
This is a well-written unforgettable story. Thanksgiving was a special day for the Yurcek Family. It has sadness but its heartwarming and thought provoking. The books about the Yurcek family and how they all struggled with baby Becca who was born with Noonan syndrome. Becca had two older sisters and three older brothers, all still very young making it hard for them to understand why baby Becca could not come home but by talking to each child the parents told the truth that they could accept at the age they were.
As baby Becca was fighting to live it still took the Doctors a few months to come up with her diagnosis. The Yurcek family knew it was serious from the day she was born when they couldn’t even hold their baby. When the Doctors told them Becca having Noonan’s syndrome they also told them that no child had survived Noonan Syndrome and many marriages didn’t survive the stress of a critically ill child especially with other young children were also striving for their parents love.
This story is heartbreaking but they have shone me many issues their family had overcome day after day with very little hope to hang on to. I look back at my grief of a brother when terminal cancer at the age of sixty-one and a granddaughter who was born with a rare child arthritis disorder and we were told she would most likely be in a wheel chair by the time she is fifteen. We watched her struggled through the years with pain and some surgeries along the way yet, she is now twenty and walking slowly on her own and getting ready for hand surgery to see if she will get three finger on each hand usable instead of using two fingers on each hand. She says she would settle for the use of one more finger on each hand. We are lucky because technology has come a long way since she was born. So this story hit home for me but our challenges don’t even come close to what Yurcek’s family has gone through.
The reading of the story came at a good time for me and I’m sure there are many more families who need to read this story to realize by saying “Why Me?” “Why My Family?” There are no answers to the “Why‘s“….The story was so inspirational and just knowing Ann Yurcek never gave up and settled on that little bit of Hope each day and we should also go day by day with her strength and with a little bit of Hope….
This is a well-written unforgettable story. Thanksgiving was a special day for the Yurcek Family. It has sadness but its heartwarming and thought provoking. The books about the Yurcek family and how they all struggled with baby Becca who was born with Noonan syndrome. Becca had two older sisters and three older brothers, all still very young making it hard for them to understand why baby Becca could not come home but by talking to each child the parents told the truth that they could accept at the age they were.
As baby Becca was fighting to live it still took the Doctors a few months to come up with her diagnosis. The Yurcek family knew it was serious from the day she was born when they couldn’t even hold their baby. When the Doctors told them Becca having Noonan’s syndrome they also told them that no child had survived Noonan Syndrome and many marriages didn’t survive the stress of a critically ill child especially with other young children were also striving for their parents love.
This story is heartbreaking but they have shone me many issues their family had overcome day after day with very little hope to hang on to. I look back at my grief of a brother when terminal cancer at the age of sixty-one and a granddaughter who was born with a rare child arthritis disorder and we were told she would most likely be in a wheel chair by the time she is fifteen. We watched her struggled through the years with pain and some surgeries along the way yet, she is now twenty and walking slowly on her own and getting ready for hand surgery to see if she will get three finger on each hand usable instead of using two fingers on each hand. She says she would settle for the use of one more finger on each hand. We are lucky because technology has come a long way since she was born. So this story hit home for me but our challenges don’t even come close to what Yurcek’s family has gone through.
The reading of the story came at a good time for me and I’m sure there are many more families who need to read this story to realize by saying “Why Me?” “Why My Family?” There are no answers to the “Why‘s“….The story was so inspirational and just knowing Ann Yurcek never gave up and settled on that little bit of Hope each day and we should also go day by day with her strength and with a little bit of Hope….
August 19, 2014
Very Inspiring
Very Inspiring
I could not put this book down! I am not a fast reader and do not usually read books, but this one was so engaging and uplifting that I could not wait to read it. The daily struggles and challenges this family faced inspired them to live life more fully, each day. We all have challenges that we face and,if we follow the Yurcek's examples, we we have a much larger life.
Very Inspiring
I could not put this book down! I am not a fast reader and do not usually read books, but this one was so engaging and uplifting that I could not wait to read it. The daily struggles and challenges this family faced inspired them to live life more fully, each day. We all have challenges that we face and,if we follow the Yurcek's examples, we we have a much larger life.
August 26, 2018
WOW WHAT AN AMAZING FAMILY!
This book is the most beautiful memoir I ever read! The book is about a baby born really sick, deadly sick ..its about a mother who loved and cared not only for her sick little baby but for her hole family. You are going to follow them on a roller coaster that never ends. This unique mom Ann is a woman with so much love in her that you are going to feel her love through the pages. She is determined to help her little baby live and she does. I can't remember reading a story of this class from someone who thought she's just a mum. I can promise you she's so much more. This is a must read book! And to Ann and the whole family, Thank you for letting me be in your life at least for the time it took to read the book! You are all fantastic people❤️
This book is the most beautiful memoir I ever read! The book is about a baby born really sick, deadly sick ..its about a mother who loved and cared not only for her sick little baby but for her hole family. You are going to follow them on a roller coaster that never ends. This unique mom Ann is a woman with so much love in her that you are going to feel her love through the pages. She is determined to help her little baby live and she does. I can't remember reading a story of this class from someone who thought she's just a mum. I can promise you she's so much more. This is a must read book! And to Ann and the whole family, Thank you for letting me be in your life at least for the time it took to read the book! You are all fantastic people❤️
September 21, 2018
Ann, you are amazing and an inspiration to me as I raise my adopted son with FAS. We both added to our family via adoption when our birth children were grown. Our AJ is 12 and his sister is 11. I can't imagine my life without our two littles as we call them. I have learned much from you! God Bless you and your beautiful family!!
June 29, 2018
A really good account of a family having to fight all odds to save the life of their new sister who has Noonan's syndrome. It is a truly inspiring story and a testimony to the power of family, faith and community.
November 9, 2019
True story, easy read.
Ann's daughter is born with Noonan Syndrome. This is their journey. Every moving. I enjoyed reading her personal story.
Ann's daughter is born with Noonan Syndrome. This is their journey. Every moving. I enjoyed reading her personal story.
May 6, 2017
I bought this book as a good example of a mother's fight for services. Holy hell is it.
Ann's sixth biological child, Becca, was born with a severe case of Noonan's Syndrome that gave her no life expectancy. Ann ended up being her daughter's primary nurse and an advocate for Becca's healthcare. She learned when to stand her ground and when to humor the doctors with god complexes. She also learned to listen to what Becca's body was saying (ex: Becca refused to swallow anything for years...it turned out that with her flabby throat muscles, it could have easily aspirated into her lungs and killed her).
Then, to give back for all the miracles they'd received during the years they struggled with Becca's medical issues, they tried to adopt six children.
The littlest boy turned out to be a sexual perpertrator and was removed from the home before the adoption was finalized.
The oldest daughter was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, RAD, and FASD. She pushed Ann down the stairs, breaking her arm in multiple places and permanently damaging the nerves in her neck. It was a fall that easily could have been fatal. Suddenly, Ann was faced with another huge fight--to get Ann non-existent mental health services without disrupting the adoption (which would put her and her husband at risk for having ALL their children removed from the home...a move which would result in Becca's death because bureacracy would not be able to maintain the level of care Ann provided).
Ann was shocked to discover that while there are medical resources in place if you just know where to look for them, mental health resources are non-exsistent and violent but still salvagable children are pushed back on the parents at every turn.
Ann's story is all too common, from what I've read, ad it PISSES ME OFF.
One small note: the editor seems to have falle asleep in the last two sections of te book--the typos are rampant.
Ann's sixth biological child, Becca, was born with a severe case of Noonan's Syndrome that gave her no life expectancy. Ann ended up being her daughter's primary nurse and an advocate for Becca's healthcare. She learned when to stand her ground and when to humor the doctors with god complexes. She also learned to listen to what Becca's body was saying (ex: Becca refused to swallow anything for years...it turned out that with her flabby throat muscles, it could have easily aspirated into her lungs and killed her).
Then, to give back for all the miracles they'd received during the years they struggled with Becca's medical issues, they tried to adopt six children.
The littlest boy turned out to be a sexual perpertrator and was removed from the home before the adoption was finalized.
The oldest daughter was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, RAD, and FASD. She pushed Ann down the stairs, breaking her arm in multiple places and permanently damaging the nerves in her neck. It was a fall that easily could have been fatal. Suddenly, Ann was faced with another huge fight--to get Ann non-existent mental health services without disrupting the adoption (which would put her and her husband at risk for having ALL their children removed from the home...a move which would result in Becca's death because bureacracy would not be able to maintain the level of care Ann provided).
Ann was shocked to discover that while there are medical resources in place if you just know where to look for them, mental health resources are non-exsistent and violent but still salvagable children are pushed back on the parents at every turn.
Ann's story is all too common, from what I've read, ad it PISSES ME OFF.
One small note: the editor seems to have falle asleep in the last two sections of te book--the typos are rampant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2013
This one gets two stars not to diminish what the family experienced but because the writing, organization and editing of the book just isn't that good. It's actually a distraction, not sure how you can read a whole book about a child's fight to overcome challenges resulting from her illness, but never get any type of explanation about her illness. I actually had to go google her syndrome because the book was so vague.
I feel bad about sounding harsh, because the mom did put herself out there by sharing her story. I guess basically my review is good story, not so good book. (Free Kindle book by the way.)
I feel bad about sounding harsh, because the mom did put herself out there by sharing her story. I guess basically my review is good story, not so good book. (Free Kindle book by the way.)
July 14, 2008
Ann and her family share their remarkable journey through medical poverty. Down to eating every other day to feed their children, she and her husband rise above their situation by uniting as a family, delivering over 1/2 million newspapers to help put the father, unemployed, back into college and through med school. Today a general surgeon, the family gives back by adopting and reuniting five siblings living in three different foster homes. Their story is remarkable and a great cozy up and read, and read, and read. Chosen Best Adult Non Fiction from The Mom's Choice Foundation.
March 19, 2013
This is the story of how Ann Yurcek championed for her daughter Rebecca, who was born with Noonan syndrome which includes a host of life threatening problems. Ann became her daughter's advocate, learning as much as she could about the medical challenges that her daughter faced and her daughter, who faced death daily for years, survived and thrived. Ann shares what it is like to parent a severly medically challenged child and I think other parents of medically challenged children will find this book encouraging and helpful. The book would be better if it was properly edited.
October 13, 2013
A worthwhile account of what it's like to have a child who is born with medical problems, how trivial the problems appear to those on the outside, how very overwhelming it is on the inside. This mother doesn't stop with the medical aspects but shares accounts of family, church, culture, social hardships, how she overcame, those she didn't overcome, and so much more. It's worth reading, easy to sink into, and a quick read to. Thanks so much to the writer for opening up to the world her personal experiences.
Michalatyann
Www.bitemybook.com
Michalatyann
Www.bitemybook.com
December 31, 2013
This book was overly long. Many things were unnecessarily repeated over and over. Yes, there were some grammatical errors, but the content of the book was good. What a story to get you to believe in miracles! The author really did a good job conveying how hard her life had become. Instead of dwelling on the negative, this family found the positives.
April 24, 2008
It was a fascinating story. Dr. James Yurchek is currently a new surgeon in our area where I live, so I was so excited to read it!
Maybe a bit repetitive, and some editing problems at times, but it was good.
Maybe a bit repetitive, and some editing problems at times, but it was good.
June 28, 2013
Great story of resiliency in the face of illness. It's amazing and ingenious seeing the ways this family came up with for both keeping their family together, making money in a six child household with one medically "fragile" child.
April 5, 2013
I liked the story behind this book. The book itself had quite a few typos and the ordering messed with me a little. Looking past that though, it was interesting to read about how the family dealt all of the problems stemming from their little girl. Overall a decent read.
Currently reading
April 4, 2008This book is a must read!! Beware you'll need a box of tissues for this one.
August 4, 2008
Crazy, fascinating story...I know the woman's cousin.... but it is extremely scattered writing and doesn't engage you quite as much as I would hope from a book this long...
June 28, 2012
I have read this book three times once via computer, once by hard copy and just recently via my Kindle. Book is written from on "Just a Mom to another".
February 6, 2013
a story very close to my heart .....ive read this book 4 times now and it still reduces me to tears every time .... ann, becca and her family are truly amazing and inspirational.
March 9, 2013
Made me thankful for the health and strength I have. But ultimately, God takes care of our needs even in our darkest moments.
May 23, 2013
A wonderful story that once again, shows the resilience of the human spirit. So many troubles for a family destined to be a witness to the world of the power of love.
September 13, 2013
Yawn. Once I'd waded through all the cruft before the actual book started, I only got about five pages in. If the book has a hook, like the acknowledgements etc, it's in the wrong place.
January 22, 2014
This is a powerful book. Incredibly touching and life changing. For any family who has been a part of the NICU world - a definite read. Reminds you of the blessing of the journey.
April 4, 2014
Amazing story
Amazing story
very inspiring story. hard to put down . a story that miracles do happen and to never give up hope
Amazing story
very inspiring story. hard to put down . a story that miracles do happen and to never give up hope
June 23, 2014
This was a heart-rending book about a little girl's struggle to survive.
January 31, 2018
Needs a strong editor... couldn't finish.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews