Raising Ricky - Debbie Miller
Debbie Miller, a retired nurse, settled in Gainesville, Florida, after she and her husband traveled the country in an RV for four years. After taking Susie Baxter’s class, “Write Your Memoir, One Story at a Time,” she joined WAG and a critique pod, which was instrumental in finishing her manuscript. Her memoir, “Raising Ricky, a sister’s lifelong promise to protect her brother with Down syndrome,” will be released in Feb. 2025. She recognizes the benefits of WAG's resources for writers and the importance of storytellers sharing their voices. Debbie has faced numerous challenges throughout her life, and by drawing on her personal experiences, she has written a heartfelt story about her journey as a caregiver for her brother, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her deep compassion and dedication extend beyond her family, and her fight is now focused on urgent inequities around new Alzheimer’s disease therapies for people with Down syndrome. In bringing attention to the issue of this inequity, the community is paving the way for access to future breakthrough treatments for other diseases and conditions.
GENRE: Memoir
Blurb:
A Memoir of Love, Resilience, and Unbreakable Family Bonds In the fall of 1961, a young girl eagerly anticipates the arrival of her baby brother, Ricky. But when he’s born, the joy she expected is overshadowed by the unexpected tension that fills their home. Her mother, once lively and full of warmth, becomes distant, struggling to care for two children—especially a newborn with special needs. Raising Ricky is the poignant story of a family transformed, as a sister steps into a role far
