Do You Know What Love Is? Gifts in the Struggles

A true story for readers who want to understand the realities of disability advocacy, caregiving, and the enduring power of a mother's love.

Doctors said they would never live to be teenagers. When I was being pressured to put them in an institution, I chose my sons.

My sons Shawn and Jason were born with a rare genetic disorder. Doctors told me they would not survive to become teenagers. Their father wanted me to place them in an institution. Instead, I divorced him, packed our lives, and moved in the middle of the night to start over. I wanted to give my boys every opportunity to live full, joyful lives.

We faced intense medical battles and fought hard for disability inclusion. I taught them to advocate for themselves. But in 2022, I faced the devastating grief of losing both of my sons just weeks apart.

I wrote this book to heal and to honor Shawn and Jason. Their physical presence is gone, but their legacy remains. I want to share the truth that every life holds deep value, and that love can carry us through our greatest struggles.

We all face moments that threaten to break us. When a diagnosis is severe and the path forward looks impossible, the weight of caregiving can feel entirely isolating. You might wonder how to find the strength to advocate for those who cannot fight for themselves.

This book speaks directly to that exhaustion and that fierce hope. It shows what happens when you refuse to let a medical label define a person. You will see how faith and resilience can light up the darkest rooms.

Grief and struggle do not have to be the end of the story. You can discover profound gifts hidden within the hardest seasons of life. You can learn how to carry forward the legacy of the people you love.

Why This Story Belongs on Your Shelf

This is not just a memoir about loss. It is a practical and spiritual testament to the realities of severe disability and the fight for inclusion in a world that often looks away. You will find a raw, honest look at the toll of constant medical battles.

It also serves as a guide for finding hope. You will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to advocate for vulnerable people. You will see how a mother's fierce dedication can defy every medical expectation.

The G.I.F.T.S. in the Struggles

This book reveals how profound challenges can bring unexpected blessings into our lives.

Grace

Finding the strength to forgive and move forward when others fail to support your choices.

Inclusion

Fighting every day to ensure your children have a place in a world not built for them.

Faith

Leaning on a deep Christian belief to survive medical emergencies and the pain of loss.

Tenacity

Refusing to accept limits placed by doctors and fighting for a joyful life against all odds.

Survival

Rebuilding your entire life from scratch to protect the ones you love most.

What You Will Find Inside

You will learn what it takes to navigate a rare genetic disorder diagnosis.
You will see the reality of leaving an abusive marriage to protect your children.
You will discover practical ways to fight for disability inclusion in your own community.
You will find comfort and solidarity in the heavy journey of grief and caregiving.
You will uncover the hidden gifts that emerge when you trust God through the hardest trials.

A Book You Will Keep Close

Raw and Honest

Written with plain truth about the exhaustion of constant caregiving.

Fierce Advocacy

A blueprint for standing up to systems that write people off.

Enduring Faith

Proof that love and spiritual resilience survive even the deepest grief.

Order Your Copy Today

Your copy of Do You Know What Love Is?
Two bonus chapters included with your purchase.
The complete story of Shawn and Jason's legacy.

Read With Confidence

If this story does not resonate with you, simply return your copy for a refund. We want you to find genuine value in this journey of motherhood and faith.

Kathy Pounds Graham

Kathy Pounds Graham is an author, advocate, and woman of unwavering Christian faith. Her greatest calling began with the births of her sons, Shawn and Jason, who were both diagnosed with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease. Refusing to let a medical label define her family, Kathy devoted her life to giving her boys joyful experiences and fighting for true disability inclusion.

Though Shawn and Jason are no longer physically present, their legacy continues through her writing. She is the author of the Hearts of Gold series, which provides an honest look at disability, caregiving, grief, and faith. Through her books, Kathy continues to teach others how to advocate for the vulnerable and find hope in the face of profound loss.