God Spare Life: An Autobiography - Hardcover

Dr. Claudia Lynn Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1934229024 ISBN 13: 9781934229026

Publisher: WME Books, 2007

Synopsis

From her childhood in New York City, to the turbulence of campus rebellion (at Vassar, of all places) in the 60s, to becoming the first Black female orthopedic surgeon in the United States, Claudia Thomas' life is an inspiration to all Black Americans, to all women, and in the end, to all people.

And that's just the warm-up!

From the author's Prologue:

"My life can be perceived as a series of three major storms. As a young adult, I rode out the squalls of my coming of age as a college student in the 1960s. [Chapter 3 has been adopted as part of the online history pproject at Vassar College]

"... While trapped in the jaws of a demonic hurricane, [the Category 5 Hurricane Hugo on the island of St. Thomas in 1989] I clung to the arms of a sofa and prayed repeatedly, 'God spare life! ...'

"... But as awful as Hugo was, it could not match the storm of the desperate illness that threatened my very life ... kidney disease so severe, only a transplant or dialysis would save my life."

How did she survive, indeed thrive and achieve great things, in the face of such dire hardships? Read her story.

About this title

About the Author

The book tells of her life through the mid-1990s, but since her dramatic triumph over kidney cancer, Dr. Thomas has returned to practice medicine in Florida and teaching on the Johns Hopkins faculty in Baltimore. Among her activities, she finds joy in helping young people overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Review

Claudia Thomas has written a fascinating book about her life. She provides a moving account of those days and hours when thirty-four Afro-American women students took over a Vassar College building to call attention to their unfulfilled academic needs. Her years at Johns Hopkins, where she practiced orthopedic surgery, a first for a Black woman, continue the story of her very courageous life and accomplishments.

--Dr. Elizabeth Daniels,
Vassar College Historian

One generally doesn't think of an autobiography as a genre that is so engrossing, it just can't be put down. However, the vivid detail and emotional integrity of Dr. Thomas' writing captured me and drew me into her life. And what a fascinating and marvelous life! I found myself reading late into the night to see what happened next.

She poignantly portrays the desperate personal drama of transplantation and the resultant joy in a second chance at life. I wish everyone contemplating organ donation could read her story.

--Connie Gonitzke,
Director of Resource Development,
National Foundation for Transplants

God Spare Life is a formidable book, as much about a mother's love, faith, trust and resolve as it is about the first African-American female orthopedic surgeon in the United States -- and her extraordinary accomplishments against all odds.

Dr. Claudia Thomas' courage and inner strength will challenge us to look deep within ourselves for that inner fortitude we all possess to confront life's challenges. I believe that this autobiography will permanently alter, perhaps even transform the lives of readers who share in this joyful, poignant, yet unbelievably true and ultimately triumphant story.

--Milfred C. Fierce, Ph.D.,
Professor Emeritus in Black Studies

About this edition

• Publisher: WME Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1934229024
• ISBN 13: 9781934229026
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 360