About the Author... Keesha McMillian, My daughter...

Keesha L. McMillian was born in Brooklyn, New York..

She is my third of four children. When she was about 9 years old we moved to Cleveland, Ohio where she attended Elementary, Middle School and High School. She then earned her bachelors degree from Cheyney University.

She continued her educational pursuit at Cleveland State University where she received her Masters of Education degree. Presently, she is an author of children's books and a Practicing Child and Family Therapist in Cleveland, Ohio.

Reflecting Back . . .

There were many struggles along the way. The move from New York to Cleveland was very traumatic. Keesha had to leave her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and the only life that she knew. A life where parties and birthdays were celebrated with all the family gathered together; loud, happy, boisterous, gala affairs. The trauma of the move was eased somewhat when she started elementary school and made new friends in the neighborhood.

Going away to college was a major adjustment. During her senior year at Cheyney University she was stricken with a disease called Gullian Barre Syndrome. Her whole world stopped. Keesha was paralyzed and placed at the mercy of others for her every need. She could not even speak, however, she could hear and the illness did not impair her ability to think. My belief is that God wanted to get her attention and that he did! She had the drive, tenacity, and faith to not give up. She trusted in God and believed that this obstacle could be overcome with God `s help, the support of her family, extended family, doctors and friends. Keesha recovered enough to go to Cheyney University, (on crutches) to walk across that stage with her classmates to receive her degree. She was declared 100% disabled but this did not stop her. She turned that negative into a positive by seeking her post graduate degree.

Keesha exemplifies what can be done when one is determined to succeed. My daughter continues to reach for the stars although she is already in the galaxy, sharing her time and talents with the youth of our country. Maybe that proverb, " It takes a village to raise a child," isn't too farfetched at all.

Patricia McMillian