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Table for Five: A Father’s Story of Life, Love, and Loss
As an about-to-be first-time father, Ted Yang felt he had it all: married to the love of his life, a fulfilling and lucrative career, and an instant family with triplets on the way.
It all changed in the blink of an eye with premature birth, a death, and years-long struggle to keep a child alive. Born at 24 weeks, the tiny Yang Triplets had the odds stacked against them.
How far does a father go to hear his daughter laugh? As far as it takes.
A story of hope, Ted shares his fight, his fears, and how the experience of fatherhood redefined him, personally and professionally. This is a story of a family, Ted and Christine Yang’s family, thriving in spite of obstacles and setbacks.
It all changed in the blink of an eye with premature birth, a death, and years-long struggle to keep a child alive. Born at 24 weeks, the tiny Yang Triplets had the odds stacked against them.
How far does a father go to hear his daughter laugh? As far as it takes.
A story of hope, Ted shares his fight, his fears, and how the experience of fatherhood redefined him, personally and professionally. This is a story of a family, Ted and Christine Yang’s family, thriving in spite of obstacles and setbacks.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2020
16 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Ted Yang
2 books3 followersThe son of Chinese immigrants, Ted Yang was born in Suffern, NY. He and his wife Christine have a surviving son with Autism and a daughter with physical disabilities, both aged 12.
Ted is a serial entrepreneur who has founded 13 startups and non-profits. These include: Cantata Media/Daily Voice, Highclere Castle Spirits, MediaCrossing, the Stamford Innovation Center, and 4-CT.
Prior to that, Ted was an executive at the world's most successful hedge funds, He has sat on several notable boards including the Wiki Education Foundation and the Meadville-Lombard Theological School.
Ted finished his Masters of Engineering at MIT at 21, has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NPR and Fox Business News, and has spoken at the MIT, Wharton, Babson, NYU, and Columbia Business Schools.
Ted is a serial entrepreneur who has founded 13 startups and non-profits. These include: Cantata Media/Daily Voice, Highclere Castle Spirits, MediaCrossing, the Stamford Innovation Center, and 4-CT.
Prior to that, Ted was an executive at the world's most successful hedge funds, He has sat on several notable boards including the Wiki Education Foundation and the Meadville-Lombard Theological School.
Ted finished his Masters of Engineering at MIT at 21, has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, NPR and Fox Business News, and has spoken at the MIT, Wharton, Babson, NYU, and Columbia Business Schools.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 2, 2021
I am Ted Yang's father-in-law, so when I wear that hat, I am naturally going to be prejudiced. But I was also an English teacher and writer for four decades, so wearing the critic's chapeau I can be objective as well. I am impressed with how deftly the author arranged the elements of this true story, a tale fraught with tension and hope. Ted managed to capture the angst that he and my daughter Christie endured while making critical and weighty decisions. He also accurately depicts the strengths that both new mother and new mother needed to develop to face a host of challenges. This was for everyone involved, including grandparents, a highly emotional time, and the author conveys that emotion without losing sight of the very clinical nature of the events. I read the book twice. I know I will read it again.
November 15, 2020
First off, I'd like to thank Ted Yang for entrusting me with this beautiful memoir, and for sharing with me his family's story. Ted wrote this as a cathartic exercise as well as to promote support for other fathers and families with premature infants and everything that entails. Ted and Christine Yang's triplets were born at 24 weeks' gestation, and were each under 2 pounds.
It's revealing to read a memoir, on this topic, from a father's point of view. Father's are often pushed aside and overlooked as the main attention envelops the preemies and their mothers, who have recently given birth. (I love the many endearing, included photos, especially the pic. of Ted and Christine, side by side, providing kangaroo care (holding preemies chest to chest and skin to skin) for their babies.)
...perhaps men simply don't ask enough for help. I didn't. In retrospect, though, none of that was particularly healthy. Dads need real support and we, as a gender, are terrible at asking for it. And care providers should be more inclusive to dads, too.
There are very few books about family tragedies written from the male perspective. If reading about me lets a dad understand that he is not alone, then I've done something good. If that dad then takes the big step to reach out and share with another dad, then I've done something even better. The more stories we get out there, the more we'll break down the silent-and-strong wall.
Other important topics Ted mentions include health insurance and the importance of home nursing care for families with premature infants with continued health needs. Equally important is necessary time off for fathers, as well as mothers, in order to provide the high demand care often required by premature infants. Unfortunately, it all depends on where you work and the type of insurance provided. Also, hospitals need to improve upon offering grief support services and counseling to all family members. Both Christine and Ted felt in need of better, or any, grief support services, when they lost one of their triplets.
I know my situation is unusual and rare. However, the American healthcare system clearly isn’t working if the only reasonable way out was for me to email a double-digit billionaire and ask for his
intercession. It seems like common sense to me that the U.S. needs to simplify the system, enable real nationwide competition, and give people a baseline similar to what our federal employees get
I absolutely adore the included shadow of Raymond, in the family photo, on the book cover.
How many kids do you have? Easy question, right? That’s why it is a staple of small talk. But it will never be easy for my wife or me to answer it....I have three children. I had three children. (from prologue)
The hardest part of my day (and Christine's) was coming home. Having children was supposed to be an ecstatic, non-sleeping experience with a house full of noise --in our case, times three. Instead, we came home to quiet. No children, not even one. Each day we left the hospital emotionally and physically exhausted for our silent house.
I wasn't able to provide page numbers for quotes, as the ARC does not contain page numbers.
It's revealing to read a memoir, on this topic, from a father's point of view. Father's are often pushed aside and overlooked as the main attention envelops the preemies and their mothers, who have recently given birth. (I love the many endearing, included photos, especially the pic. of Ted and Christine, side by side, providing kangaroo care (holding preemies chest to chest and skin to skin) for their babies.)
...perhaps men simply don't ask enough for help. I didn't. In retrospect, though, none of that was particularly healthy. Dads need real support and we, as a gender, are terrible at asking for it. And care providers should be more inclusive to dads, too.
There are very few books about family tragedies written from the male perspective. If reading about me lets a dad understand that he is not alone, then I've done something good. If that dad then takes the big step to reach out and share with another dad, then I've done something even better. The more stories we get out there, the more we'll break down the silent-and-strong wall.
Other important topics Ted mentions include health insurance and the importance of home nursing care for families with premature infants with continued health needs. Equally important is necessary time off for fathers, as well as mothers, in order to provide the high demand care often required by premature infants. Unfortunately, it all depends on where you work and the type of insurance provided. Also, hospitals need to improve upon offering grief support services and counseling to all family members. Both Christine and Ted felt in need of better, or any, grief support services, when they lost one of their triplets.
I know my situation is unusual and rare. However, the American healthcare system clearly isn’t working if the only reasonable way out was for me to email a double-digit billionaire and ask for his
intercession. It seems like common sense to me that the U.S. needs to simplify the system, enable real nationwide competition, and give people a baseline similar to what our federal employees get
I absolutely adore the included shadow of Raymond, in the family photo, on the book cover.
How many kids do you have? Easy question, right? That’s why it is a staple of small talk. But it will never be easy for my wife or me to answer it....I have three children. I had three children. (from prologue)
The hardest part of my day (and Christine's) was coming home. Having children was supposed to be an ecstatic, non-sleeping experience with a house full of noise --in our case, times three. Instead, we came home to quiet. No children, not even one. Each day we left the hospital emotionally and physically exhausted for our silent house.
I wasn't able to provide page numbers for quotes, as the ARC does not contain page numbers.
November 5, 2020
This was an amazing memoir; a story of heartbreak, resiliency, perseverance, and embracing a different life than what you had expected. This would be an invaluable book for any parent of a premature child, both as a sort of guide and a reminder that you are not alone in this experience. Even though I personally have never experienced a premature birth or raising a child with special needs, there was a lot for me to take away from reading this book. Not only about medicine but also learning about the emotions and needs of the parents of special-needs children, the difficult decisions they are often faced with, and financial and insurance considerations that I have been fortunate enough to not need to think about personally.
November 6, 2020
As a parent who has lost a child, navigated complex hospital systems, been challenged to advocate for her family and attempted to support a husband through his own grief with little resources, this book has cut right to the heart. Ted has shared his own story, welcome me into it and help me feel comforted, informed, encouraged and inspired at the same time- a rarity.
If you are a parent who has lost a child, a father/mother who is trying to figure out how to process grief while maintaining a career and family, or a family figuring out life with medially complex children this book is 100% one your should have in your arsenal.
If you are a parent who has lost a child, a father/mother who is trying to figure out how to process grief while maintaining a career and family, or a family figuring out life with medially complex children this book is 100% one your should have in your arsenal.
November 23, 2020
An intimate account of personal growth as a father of children with special needs
In this book Ted Yang reveals his personal journey as a hopeful, but overwhelmed father of micro-premie triplets to a wise and grounded advocate for his children with medical and educational needs. His ability to navigate and work in full partnership within the medical bureaucracy and the educational system reaped benefits for his children. It is MUST READING for all parents of children requiring Special Education.
In this book Ted Yang reveals his personal journey as a hopeful, but overwhelmed father of micro-premie triplets to a wise and grounded advocate for his children with medical and educational needs. His ability to navigate and work in full partnership within the medical bureaucracy and the educational system reaped benefits for his children. It is MUST READING for all parents of children requiring Special Education.
December 30, 2020
Table for Five
The book while quite interesting depicting the struggles parents endure when their child is born prematurely was slow reading. I would recommend this book to parents of premature infants to know that they are not alone in their struggle.
The book while quite interesting depicting the struggles parents endure when their child is born prematurely was slow reading. I would recommend this book to parents of premature infants to know that they are not alone in their struggle.
January 29, 2023
I was honored to get to read the story of this truly remarkable family.
January 27, 2022
Thank You, Ted Yang!
Our family has been living an abbreviated version of this story, they had twins prematurely and lost one. The surviving baby is now 3 months in NICU. Living this has been so emotional. This book captures what parents live and endure so well and I agree, even today there is more emphasis on mom’s emotional state than Dad’s. Thank you, Ted Yang for promoting a more embracing approach for both parents living thru this journey! I hope others hear the message and respond!
Our family has been living an abbreviated version of this story, they had twins prematurely and lost one. The surviving baby is now 3 months in NICU. Living this has been so emotional. This book captures what parents live and endure so well and I agree, even today there is more emphasis on mom’s emotional state than Dad’s. Thank you, Ted Yang for promoting a more embracing approach for both parents living thru this journey! I hope others hear the message and respond!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews