A Few Minor Adjustments
A Memoir of Healing
by Cherie Kephart
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Pub Date Sep 07 2017 | Archive Date Dec 31 2017
Description
Cherie Kephart, a young woman who longed for adventure, traveled the world from the remote villages of Central Africa to the majestic coastlines of New Zealand until a mysterious illness thrust her to the precipice of death. The persistent health challenges led to years of suffering, during which her symptoms time and again were undiagnosed by well-meaning medical doctors and healers who were sometimes competent, sometimes careless, sometimes absurd, and always baffled. The anguish, the uncertainty, and the relentless pain would have caused many people to simply give up and end their lives—and Cherie came close. Told with brutal honesty, astonishing wit, and a haunting vulnerability, A Few Minor Adjustments is an unforgettable memoir that will move you with its fiercely inspirational account of one woman’s incredible journey to find life-saving answers. In the end, she finds much more than a diagnosis.
A Note From the Publisher
A Few Minor Adjustments is a 2017 San Diego Book Awards winner. It was also featured in the San Diego Memoir Showcase and was performed onstage at the Horton Grand theater.
Advance Praise
“Cherie Kephart manages the almost impossible: she writes about suffering without making you suffer. In fact, while A Few Minor Adjustments introduces you to the real meaning of pain—mysterious, intractable, relentless pain—the story of this journey is equally full of humor, beauty, and understanding. Read it and be changed.”
—Mark A. Clements, author of The Land of Nod
“With raw guts, wisdom, and a spirit as tenacious as they come, Cherie tells the story of her harrowing experience with an undiagnosed condition in a way that will keep you wanting to turn the page. Intelligent, tender, and triumphant, A Few Minor Adjustments is a must read.”
—Marni Freedman, editor, and award-winning author of Playing Mona Lisa and 7 Essential Writing Tools
“Cherie Kephart’s A Few Minor Adjustments is a sweeping adventure of one woman’s journey through illness, ambiguity, and finally to self-acceptance and love. Written with wit and generosity, this book will give hope to those on the journey through illness, and beyond.”
—Zhena Muzyka, author of Life by the Cup and Publisher, Enliven Books
“Never has a phrase, 'no tears for the writer, no tears for the reader,' apply less to a book than this one. Kephart holds nothing back in this heartbreakingly beautiful tale that will transport, transfix, and ultimately inspire even the most cynical of readers.”
—Alex Sheshunoff, author of A Beginner's Guide to Paradise
“A Few Minor Adjustments is everything you want in a book. I was drawn in from the first sentence and pulled quickly to the last beautiful sentence. It is magnificent, reflective, truly touching, and meaningful, with the welcomed relief of the perfect touch of humor condensing 20 years of life with the right amount of detail for one to grasp and feel part of her story….and it is a great story!”
—Dr. Melinda Nevins, D.O.
“Cherie brings a delicate balance of humor and brutal honesty to a tale that would be dark and grim in the hands of a lesser writer. That she is here to even tell her story is a miracle – that she has the talent and insight to tell it so brilliantly is a gift for us all.”
—Jeff Thurman, author and retired FBI Agent
“A powerful, gripping, and insightful story that keeps you engaged and wanting to read more. Reading someone else’s brutally honest struggle makes you thankful for what you have…and what you don’t have! Cherie Kephart is a living tribute to learning how to laugh at life and see the light and lesson in every dire situation.”
—Dr. Kevin Grold, Ph.D. in Psychology and CEO at www.edreferral.com
“Cherie’s treatment of such a difficult, personal topic is nothing short of lovely. It’s a story celebrating life. We all need that, even when we’re healthy.”
—Reina Menasche, social worker and author of Silent Bird and Twice Begun
“A powerful testimony to the strength of the human spirit and a humbling reminder of the limitations of modern medicine.”
—Dr. Renate Girard, M.D.
“After her excruciating ordeal, Cherie has re-opened her heart to write this vivid account of her courageous journey, leaving readers with an inspiring message and a sense of awe.”
—Peggy Lang, editor, ghostwriter, and co-author of the award winning novel, Assassin’s Game
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781947127012 |
| PRICE | $15.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 179099
This book was an eye-opening read. What an incredible tyrant the body can be at times! How much courage and determination it takes to not give up on oneself! I'm so grateful to the author for sharing her story.
Educator 390984
This book starts out in Africa while the author is a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia. During the time she becomes ill with stomach pains and diarrhea I was really able to relate, as I was preparing my own body for a colonoscopy. The author resigns from the Peace Corps and goes on to travel more, however she becomes weak and sick with an illness that no one can find the cause of. Due to her lengthy illness, she gives up much in her life in order to visit all kinds of doctors and healers.
Written with candor, Kephart's story is one that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. She doesn't wallow in her sad story, but tells it like it is. The humor she brings to her writing with just enough detail in her descriptions, makes her story an entertaining and captivating read. The author is a strong and intelligent woman who through her story, can motivate others going through debilitating illnesses to stay positive and not give up.
Reviewer 238609
A Few Minor Ajustments is a memoir and tells the story of the authors journey of pain with an undiagnosed illness. This journey is inspiring as the author finds a way to heal herself.
Natasha H, Reviewer
This is a story about a daughter, a sister, a B.A and an M.A holder, a Peace Corps volunteer and most of all a survivor. For more than a decade, the writer struggle with a mysterious illness that left most of her doctors baffled. After countless diagnosis, the doctors decided that there's nothing wrong with her. But the writer never gives up and finally, she received the result of her mysterious illness and can start her road to being healthy again.
This relatively compelling short memoir is indeed an eye opener for me. The writer's vivid descriptions of her stint in Zambia and also her hardship really touch my heart and brought a tear to my eyes. I commend her for being so strong despite all that she's been through. She is indeed an amazing woman!
Christi S, Reviewer
Such a beautifully written book with so much honesty and emotion!
Reviewer 368118
Wanting to make her life meaningful Cherie the author signs up for the peace corps and is sent to Africa, to a remote village in Zambia, on a water sanitation and health education project. Not long after getting there, and starting her project, she comes down with debilitating stomach problems, something she is there to try and make better for the people in this village, time and time again she is sent to the peace corps headquarters in the area and looked over by their doctors. One thing they do find is Malaria, but the rest of her symptoms are a mystery. After returning to her village , she is once again struck by stomach pains and Diarrhea, she is finally told that she is going to be sent back to the U.S. Until she is completely cured. This never occurs and Cherie develops more symptoms, and see many specialist and healers over the next many years trying to find out what is going on with her body. Thank goodness for a faithful boyfriend, family and good friends who see her through the worst days of her life.
This story was hard to read at times but it was also a story that you could not put down, as you want to know if she is finally able to get a diagnosis for all that ails her. It was fascinating to see what she went through, and the treatments that she was put through to find a solution. I really admire how she was so persistent and still fairly upbeat as she went through all of this, and she is definitely a good example of strength for people who are going through similar undiagnosed illnesses.
Well written, with a lot of good stories about her life. This was a book that was worth reading.
I would like to thank NeGalley and Bazi Publishing for the ARC of this book.
Reads F, Reviewer
A very heartwarming read ideal for those lost in life and looking for inspiration.
Sue H, Reviewer
I read this book really quickly as it flowed well and was engaging and interesting. Emotionally I found it hard to read in places as having an illness which Doctors cannot diagnose must be truly awful. I admire Cherie's strength and courage in pushing the boundaries to find an answer. To continue living when life is so bad takes a strength of character that many do not have. I hope Cherie's life continues to get better and I wish her well in the future.
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