A Gift of Grace

About the Book

Imagine this: There's a family of three beautiful, gifted children, enjoying life to its fullest. Suddenly… schizophrenia: a mental disorder characterized by an inability to separate real from unreal experiences… slowly takes residence and shatters the home. Years of darkness descend, bringing torrential pain and anguish. The family struggles to convince son and brother to take prescription meds, not the street drugs. He complies haphazardly, continually being led by his voices, making a plethora of dark choices. Personal inner strength battles for him. The love of family catapult him, time after time, after time… into the light…until…with the passage of seasons, his spirit is uplifted! He seizes control of his own destiny and today…he confronts the challenge of building a healthy life, multi-tasking the strife of mental illness, addictions and his true heart’s desire to use his gifts and live out loud! A Gift of Grace: A Mother’s Journey Through Her Son’s Schizophrenia will boost optimism and support for people affected by mental illness and/or addictions, share pain and triumph with parents, while enlightening other readers with insight and comfort as they grapple with their own set of challenges.

About the Author

Bea Weatherly is a gifted educator and a courageous woman with a message of “you can achieve anything when you truly believe.” She models the unconditional love and acceptance she learned from her mother and challenges others to dream big just as her father inspired her to do. Bea realized her dream of becoming a teacher when she graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education degree. Reflecting her parents’ positive outlook, she encouraged her students to be all they could be. Shortly after she started teaching, Bea married and soon had her own three children to guide toward setting their sights high and dedicating themselves to reach their lofty goals. Today she volunteers with the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, Calgary Chapter, Canada, speaking at high schools, colleges and universities. As educator and parent, Bea also accepts speaking engagements at conferences, organizations and women’s groups.