A few years ago, my daughter and her husband introduced me to the hilarious television specials of the stand up comedian Jim Gaffigan so when I learned that his wife had written a book about her experience living through the removal of a brain tumor, I had to read it.
I’m Betty Martin with "Martin’s Must Reads" and the title of that book by Jeannie Gaffigan is When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People. It was In 2017 while Jeannie was in the pediatrician’s office of her five children that she finally took note of unusual symptoms she’d been ignoring for some time. An MRI prescribed by an ENT doctor revealed a pear-sized tumor in her brain.
Thus began her journey through brain surgery and months of recovery due to complications. The book jacket says, “she shares her deeply personal journey: the challenging conversations she had with her children; how she came to terms with feeling powerless and ferociously crabby while bed ridden and unable to eat for a month; and how she ultimately learned, re-learned and re-re-learned to be more present in life.”
Jeannie is the executive producer of Jim’s career and their household so to suddenly have no control over any aspect of her life was incredibly hard. Interspersed throughout the story of her tumor she talks about Jim, their family, and her faith. She helps Jim write his material, so there is plenty of humor woven throughout the book. This story is great experienced as an audiobook as well.
If you’re looking for a funny and inspirational life story, then you must read When Life Gives You Pears by Jeannie Gaffigan.
