ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Luke MacPHERSON
There are two paths. And we choose ours every day.
Luke MacPherson — writer, educator, and father of three. He has spent 25 years in special education, advocating for students of every ability with empathy and humor. He believes deeply in human potential, on the page and in the classroom. What changed his life is his son Teddy, who taught him what happiness is and what letting go of societal expectations from your children is like. He channels that journey into this heartfelt memoir.
But he is not only a writer but a musician who plays guitar with his band, Iron Reverb. He spends his days chasing joy and dodging thrown objects. Luke describes Teddy as his smallest, wisest teacher. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife, Kerin, and their cosmic trio: Bruce, Clark, and Teddy.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
It’s for anyone who has ever had their plans shattered and had to rebuild from scratch. MacPherson doesn’t hold back on the dark, scary moments, which makes Teddy’s joy and the family’s hard-earned victories feel so earned.
Willa Cooper
My daughter has a chromosomal condition and I’ve read a LOT of books in this space. I usually avoid memoirs that lean too heavily into “everything happens for a reason” tropes, but MacPherson completely avoids toxic positivity here. He is brutally honest about the exhaustion, the terrifying heart monitor beeps, and the sheer panic of having a newborn with Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect.
I laughed, I cried, I called my mom”
I picked this up not knowing what to expect and ended up finishing it in one sitting. Luke MacPherson doesn’t sugarcoat the terror of that hospital room or the grief of losing the “normal” life you envisioned. It’s genuinely hopeful and full of love. Got copies for three of my friends who just became parents.
