Patricia Leary

Mike's World: a Life Journey Patricia Leary

The biography of Michael Stiedler is an inspirational tale of a triumph of the human spirit. Seriously brain-injured when he was four days old, Mike, now thirty two, learned to walk, talk, see, and take care of himself through fifteen years of therapy. More important, he also found his own personality and ways to explore the world, to reach out and make contact with the world and people he wanted to know. He has accomplished all of this with wit and humor, indefatigable persistence, hard-won intelligence, and will, despite his remaining handicaps. His journey is told through his mother's recounting of the kind of stories that all mothers share: the simple experiences of youth, the funny incidents, the clever exchanges, the frustrating disappointments, the adventures, and the unexpected developments. Many of the hallmarks of a young person's life are brought to vivid life and made unique by Mike's handicaps and his distinctive perspective. Join Mike for holidays, school, jogs, dining out, being one of the guys, and finding new goals and making his own choices. Join Mike and his mom as they make this inspirational journey, walking in the same pair of running shoes through life.