A Lifetime in Eleven Days, A Memoir

by Donna KBerger Brau

A Lifetime in Eleven Days shares an emotional and reflective journal of a daughter’s life in the ICU of a Texas hospital following her mother’s emergency surgery - eleven days filled with anxiety, questions and decisions, denial and acceptance, grief and love.
The surgery went well and the updates via phone of her mother’s prognosis brought hope, until the following day, when an unexpected downturn in her condition dramatically changed lives. This is a story of the difficult decisions that needed to be made and the ways that impending death can evoke lifelong memories and rekindle lost love.
The journal transcriptions evoke a rich tapestry of childhood memories, some of them wonderful, some of them painful, and reflect the more important aspects of the author’s early life in a dysfunctional, yet, loving family.
It’s likely that the memories will feel familiar to many readers, even as they discover the underlying themes. It’s truly a journey of life, love, struggle and loss.

168 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna’s writing is eloquent, tugs on the heart strings, and makes you reflect on how you show up in relationship with others. This was a fantastic read and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a memoir that makes you think and reflect on your own life.

Donna is a very special person in my life and I felt deeply honored to be asked to read the editor’s draft of her debut novel.

Having only known her for a short while, this book gave me a glimpse into her past and present in a way that felt so personal and so raw. It made me feel so much closer to her, even though we don’t live near one another.

[Molly Tengwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna’s short and richly written memoir brings one closer to their reflections on grief, love, and the relationships that define and shape us. She offers a glimpse into the final eleven days of her mother’s life in which Donna sat bedside through it all. Death has a way of pulling one’s feelings, past or present, to the fore, and Donna shows us what becomes of her ruminations as she keeps watch over her mom.

This memoir was touching to read and left me considering my own life—how I cherish relationships and how the deaths of those closest to me will later shape me. I highly recommend her book!

[Bridget Neumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an honor to read my friend, Donna Brau's memoir. I am so proud of her for accomplishing this incredible work. Every word of it was written with deep, heartful honesty. She shares good and bad memories and reminds us that love, above all, is remembered.

[Donna Brau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little bias (as the author) - just hoping that it touches hearts. I hope you'll read it - available in print and eBook at Barnes & Noble online. Thank you.