Bring Back Summertime by Jeanne Starr Gater

Bring Back Summertime by Jeanne Starr Gater
Published by Authorhouse
Sold by Amazon Digital Services
ISBN: 1456748564
ASIN: B0051GYCXE
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Inspirational


About The Author (Author Website):

Jeanne Starr Gater was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, but spent most of her youth in Chicago,Illinois. She is a graduate of Carver High School in Chicago, where she received numerous awards and honors, the highest distinction being: "Most Outstanding Senior Graduate." The author holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from De Paul University and a Master's Degree in Popular Culture/Broadcast Communications from Governor's State University. Her prolific background includes working as a Teacher and Office Occupations Coordinator at her alma mater, Carver High, in Chicago; and as Teacher/Yearbook Advisor at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI. Jeanne also worked as Assistant Editorial Community Affairs Director for WLS-TV in Chicago before her promotion to Detroit to become Director of Editorial/Community Affairs for WXYZ Radio; both ABC owned stations. Ms. Starr Gater won a number of editorial awards before becoming a television reporter at WKZO T.V. in Kalamazoo, MI, and at WDHO Television in Toledo, Ohio where she also hosted, Community Close Up. Her stellar resume includes a modeling and acting career which began while attending De Paul University and working part-time for former Olympian Track Star, Jesse Owens. His public relations firm used her for promotional ads for a number of their clients; and Jeanne after completing her degree was recruited for modeling and acting jobs through the Shirley Hamilton Agency in Chicago, Illinois.Years later, after her husband's near-fatal auto accident, Jeanne Starr Gater chose to stay close to home to monitor his recovery and to keep her family unit stable and moving forward. She was prompted to write her story by many of her colleagues in broadcasting.As an educator and author, Ms. Starr Gater has come full circle. Her willingness to share her inspirational true story, Bring Back Summertime, with others is joined with her work to motivate and inspire children and youth across the United States with her Supa Dupa Babee Anti-Drugs, Anti-Violence Curriculum. Her muscular, multicultural Supa Dupa Babee character was first launched through a public service announcement against drugs and violence through Jeanne's Higher and Higher television program. The flying Supa Dupa Babee later became Castleberry Toy's flagship character reaching kids through his adventure series booklets, music, games, and videos. Jeanne said, as an educator, she learned through the years that you could teach students to excel and truly believe in themselves once they developed 'super duper' mindsets promoting strong character and self esteem. Taking a journey that focused on family and community speaks volumes about this remarkable woman who against all odds was able keep her family together as she fought steadily to Bring Back Summertime. Giving to family and community the greater of her talents is a sincere testament to her faith and belief in the strength of the human spirit which is highlighted throughout her honest discourse shared with readers in Bring Back Summertime. Jeanne Starr Gater's three children fared remarkably well during the family's struggles giving much credence to the underlying theme of triumph over tragedy highlighted throughout her riveting story. Jeanne's ability to bring readers into the fold of Bring Back Summertime will have audiences rooting against all odds for the full recovery of "Dr. J."


Author Website: http://bringbacksummertime.com/


Disclaimer: At the request of the author, a PDF (Adobe) format edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.


Virtual Book Tour Event: On Monday, October 3, 2011, Jeanne Starr Gater participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-guest-post-jeanne-starr-gater.html


Amazon.com Book Description:


When Jeanne Starr Gater picks up the phone one morning, she receives the shock of her life. Her strong, robust, athletic husband, Dr. Julius Gater, is in the hospital! -- comatose, suffering from a stroke, broken bones ... Dr. "J" IS DYING!! A car accident that morning has left her husband unconscious, though still alive and hanging on for dear life! ..And it had been a good life -- full of sunshine! Why this! .. Dear GOD! ... Why this?! She knows she must get to him -- and fast! They had come through too much together. If she gets to the hospital in time, they will come through this awful thing too But she needs all her resources now. In her inner spirit, she petitions her God for mercy and compassion and strength to bring Dr. 'J" back from near death. Next, over time, she contacts her family and friends for their positive thoughts and prayers. She begins her long hard journey to "BRING BACK SUMMERTIME." Thus begins the remarkable true story of one woman's courage and faith in the face of the bitterest of odds, and one man's miraculous recovery despite doctor's dire predictions. Family, and friends, new and old gather round to offer support, faith and love, as the Gaters' begin their trek back to a normal life. They encounter incredible (and numerous) obstacles from resistant medical personnel and uncooperative rehabilitation staff, to other family misfortunes. Their very survival as a family depends on their determination to hold fast to their hopes and faith. BRING BACK SUMMERTIME is a soul searching story of a family's struggle for the restoration of physical strength, grace and human dignity. A story that portrays the power and strength of human bonding, prayer and the belief in the power of god to sustain and revive. This family somehow does not allow itself to be thrown even by this devastating accident. They continue their noteworthy accomplishments, as they struggle to deal with the prolonged recovery of Dr. "J". Their story is truly an inspiration to all.


My Book Review:


What would you do if you got a call from a hospital representative informing you that your loved one was in a car accident? What would you do when you saw that your loved one has life threatening injuries and his/her chances for survival were not that good? Would you buckle under the devastation of the tragedy and question your faith, or would you draw upon your faith and do everything humanly possible to help your loved one recover? These are the things that author Jeanne Starr Gater had to face one Saturday morning on October 1, 1983, when the hospital called to inform her that her husband, Julius aka "Dr J" was involved in a horrifying three-car accident. Bring Back Summertime is Jeanne and Julius' true life story of how love, commitment, strength, hope, determination, faith and the power of prayer lead them on a long journey to Julius' recovery. 


Bring Back Summertime is a memoir written by Jeanne Starr Gater, documenting the devastating accident and long recovery of her beloved husband, Julius aka "Dr J." Jeanne's recounting of this traumatic journey from that Saturday morning on October 1, 1983 to the Summer of 1985 documents the   very real experiences that the Gater family went through in order to "bring back summertime," a time that Jeanne states is when you share those special moments and good times ... where happiness and better times will bring back a sense of normalcy to your life. Jeanne's "summertime" is from the classic George Gershwin song Summertime: "Summertime, and the livin' is easy ... fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high. Oh, your daddy's rich and your mamma's good lookin', so hush little baby, don't you cry." 


Bring Back Summertime is an inspirational testimonial to the power of love, faith and prayer. It is one woman's story of incredible strength, determination and sacrifice to get her beloved husband on the road to recovery. Jeanne's story reads like a journal, she takes her readers on an intimate journey, where they get to meet the Gater family and close circle of friends. Jeanne provides a thorough documentation of the medical events, terminology and crises/setbacks that Julius endured during his recovery. Throughout the book, the message that Jeanne shared was prevalent, that through letting go and giving it to God to handle, and through the power of prayer, everything is possible. As a healthcare professional, who has run nursing homes as a Licensed Administrator, I empathized and applaud Jeanne's strong character and determination to carry on during this traumatic journey. She always kept the faith and pushed Dr. J forward, to me, this is the ultimate testament of the power of love. 


If you are looking for an inspirational book to read, Bring Back Summertime is the book for you!


RATING: 3 STARS *** (My Blog Site Rating - It was a good book)
               4 STARS **** (Amazon.com Rating - I "liked" the book)