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Holding on by Letting Go cover art

Holding on by Letting Go

Written by: Heather Hutchison
Narrated by: Heather Hutchison
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Publisher's Summary

Blind since birth, a once-spirited kid with big dreams now finds herself in a locked psychiatric facility - a wounded young woman in the midst of a global pandemic.

This memoir spans decades and continents to tell a story of the beautiful similarities that make us all human. From meeting unlikely allies in the dirty streets of some of Latin America's most impoverished neighbourhoods, to discovering difficult truths about discrimination in her home country of Canada, Heather Hutchison offers poignant insight into mental health awareness and what it means to strive for an ordinary life when you are often treated as anything but ordinary.

At once heartbreakingly honest and strikingly witty, Holding On by Letting Go is the unforgettable true story of one woman's journey through despair to acceptance and hope. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of the light that can be found in the darkest of times.

©2021 Heather Hutchison (P)2021 Heather Hutchison

What listeners say about Holding on by Letting Go

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Heart-Wrenching, illuminating, beautiful.

Heather's memoir touched my heart and brought me to tears numerous times. I went to music college with her and had no idea that she struggled with the topics mentioned in this book...It's true what they say, you can't truly judge a person's mental state by how they present themselves around others or by their smiling exterior. Heather illuminated so many challenges a blind person can face, and though I witnessed some of if first hand in our college days, I found myself being annoyed and disgusted by the ways western people try to "help" blind people, or the sheer disrespectful things people say and do. I bawled my eyes out when she spoke about her guide dog, who I had the pleasure of knowing over 10 years ago. Bibby was such a good working dog and absolutely still very much a regular ol' doggy who did regular doggy things when she was off shift. Heather has such a lovely speaking voice to listen to and I got through this book so quickly that I'm sad it is over! I definitely recommend this book but I do warn those who cry easily that you may be sobbing through parts of it. I don't cry easily.

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A Stand Out Memoir

Hutchison shared deep experiences that mirror my own as a blind person. She beautifully wove both pain and humor into a touching depiction of mental health and blindness. My own life is similar in many ways, and Hutchison's book showed me I am not alone with my own struggles.

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Smart, brave and witty

I had the privilege to bear witness to Heather’s account of some of her life experiences in her deeply personal memoir - Holding On By Letting Go. We can learn so much and do better on supporting mental health and “disabilities”. Her account bundles these constructs into a smart, brave, witty and hopeful challenge with a universal message aimed to demystify subjects that are awkward for many. It’s a quick and hard read, told with honesty, and at times, humour in the face of adversity, reminding us to reflect about the gifts of life, and the never-more-important-than-now human connections we have with our loved ones and others. I’m thankful that this story could be told, and hopeful that its impact will be far-reaching.

A smart, brave, witty and hopeful personal account on choosing life, at times — in spite of it!

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