Walking Taylor Home: A Fatal Disease, a Father's Love, and a Son's Courageous Journey [Paperback]

Brian Schrauger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2009

Taylor was an energetic nine-year-old when doctors traced a nagging pain in his leg to a huge tumor hidden in his pelvis. So began his journey of anguish, hope, anger, joy, grief, life, and death. Despite the pain, Taylor's enthusiasm for life grows and his wit, zeal, and faith multiply. Father and son draw strength from one another as they embark upon the journey that will take Taylor safely home.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...for those who exclaim, 'I don't know how a parent can do that!'... and for those of us who have." --Jan Wheeler, Founder, Project Joy and Hope for Texas

About the Author

Brian Schrauger works as a research and marketing consultant. He and his wife, Debbie, live near Nashville with their sons, Christopher and Jonathan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Monarch Books (February 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825462916
• ISBN-13: 978-0825462917
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,033,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take this road, January 3, 2002

By 

Vivian Braswell (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking Taylor Home (Hardcover)

Oh, what to write if you were going to persuade someone to read a story written by the father of a young boy who was diagnosed with a terminal illness? For most of us, this would not be a first choice. I like happy endings. We probably all have enough going on without burdening ourselves with a story about a dying child. But, amazingly, this one does not leave you hopelessly sad. Instead, it is full of amazing life lessons. Lessons about the power of words, causing pain or delivering someone from it. Another good lesson is the one on the pain of rejection. There is a lesson on fear. One on anger. Many lessons from Taylor on how to find the humor when nothing seems funny to anyone else. And there is one on how God's ways are mysterious to us and are higher than ours. Another on keeping faith when we've filtered God's answer to our prayers so that the "answer" fits our own desires. (He answered and we believed we heard, but as it turns out, hindsight revealed more understanding of His answer. Been there, done that?) But the common thread throughout this book is one that mirrors the relationship of the Father and the Son. And the best lesson of all was the one that Taylor teaches best in his attempts to comfort his dad - Always seek to please the Father, because it is only in seeking to please the Father that one will find strength, hope, patience, understanding, trust and abounding love. And to quote Taylor "It's only life." We're just passing through. This wonderful book is a map to a treasure chest of valuables - those that do not decay or rust. Come and see what you can find here to help you do those things that please the Father. Come take hold of a treasure you can keep forever. Even with all the tough news the medical profession had for this incredibly resilient child, he will still make you laugh. This is a story you won't forget. Thank you, Taylor, for being an amazing child, so full of grace. And thank you, Brian, for using your God-given writing talent to share this beautiful story.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars walking taylor home, January 21, 2002

By 

WILLIAM R GRABICKI (Niskayuna, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking Taylor Home (Hardcover)

What struck me about this book was the undying faith this family had in God. I still do not understand why God in all his compassion and love let this unique child die? Perhaps someday I will learn the answer to this question. Neverless, this book gives the average amereican a look at what we are as a people, our compassion, our love, our faith, our determination never to give up hope.
I am a person who enjoys short stories, newspaper articles, however, this book kept my attention to the pages and the events as they were written. I do hope you enjoy it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful!, November 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Walking Taylor Home (Hardcover)

This book is an unflinchingly honest journal of a father and son's relationship as they deal with one of life's biggest challenges - facing a terminal illness. It is so real in it's application of faith, and in examining how one maintains that faith even when prayers are not answered and other Christians think you need to only believe for a miracle. It gets to the heart of what Jesus meant when he said "blessed are those who mourn". It will inspire you and touch you more deeply than any neat little miracle story ever could have. Refreshingly cuts to the deeper aspects of our spiritual walk. You'll laugh and cry and cheer for Taylor and his family. You'll continue to pray for them as they walk out their own journey home without him.