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Every Day Is a Gift
Every Day Is a Gift: A Memoir | Tammy Duckworth
7 posts | 6 read | 11 to read
The incredible story of U.S. senator and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth. In EVERY DAY IS A GIFT, Tammy Duckworth takes readers through the amazing--and amazingly true--stories from her incomparable life. In November of 2004, an Iraqi RPG blew through the cockpit of Tammy Duckworth's U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The explosion, which destroyed her legs and mangled her right arm, was a turning point in her life. But as Duckworth shows in EVERY DAY IS A GIFT, that moment was just one in a lifetime of extraordinary turns. The biracial daughter of an American father and a Thai-Chinese mother, Duckworth faced discrimination, poverty, and the horrors of war -- all before the age of 16. As a child, she dodged bullets as her family fled war-torn Phnom Penh. As a teenager, she sold roses by the side of the road to save her family from hunger and homelessness in Hawaii. Through these experiences, she developed a fierce resilience that would prove invaluable in the years to come. Duckworth joined the Army, becoming one of a handful of female helicopter pilots at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She served eight months in Iraq before an insurgent's RPG shot down her helicopter, an attack that took her legs -- and nearly took her life. She then spent thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, learning to walk again on prosthetic legs and planning her return to the cockpit. But Duckworth found a new mission after meeting her state's senators, Barack Obama and Dick Durbin. After winning two terms as a U.S. Representative, she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. And she and her husband Bryan fulfilled another dream when she gave birth to two daughters, becoming the first sitting senator to give birth. From childhood to motherhood and beyond, EVERY DAY IS A GIFT is the remarkable story of one of America's most dedicated public servants.
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Amiable
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Pickpick

Completed for “Good as Hell” prompt in #Nonfiction2023. Duckworth is a total badass: survived poverty and war as a child, became an Army helicopter pilot, was shot down over Iraq and lost both legs, won seats in Congress as both a Representative and now a Senator, and juggles it all while raising two young children (the youngest she gave birth to at the age of 50. 😳) If she isn‘t “good as hell,” I don‘t know who is.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Great pick, and stacking this book! 2y
45 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Amiable
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Pickpick

This memoir struck a chord with me. In 2004, Tammy Duckworth, now a U.S. Senator from Illinois, was a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Army Reserves. After being shot down in Iraq, she lost both legs and badly injured her arm. My oldest son is a Huey helicopter pilot in the Marines, and her account of the accident seared my soul. I salute Duckworth‘s courage and resilience in rebuilding her life and her dedication to our country.

kspenmoll Such a heartfelt review. 💕💕 2y
Aimeesue Hooah, Senator! ❤️ 2y
62 likes2 comments
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Amiable
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Adding a new name into the #independentwomen mix: U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). A combat veteran of the Iraq War who served as a U.S. Army pilot, she lost both legs when her Black Hawk helicopter crashed. Despite her injuries, she got a medical waiver to continue serving in the IL Army National Guard for another 10 years. She's also the first senator to give birth while in office and is an inspiration to moms everywhere!

BarbaraBB Wow what a story and what a strong woman. Thank you for sharing 💕 2y
Cinfhen Yesssssss!!!!! I‘ve been meaning to read her memoir!! Thanks for highlighting this incredible woman ❤️ 2y
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sarahlandis
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Pickpick

Simply phenomenal. Duckworth tells her story from growing up as a biracial child in Southeast Asia, living in poverty in America, prospering in higher education, finding a passionate career in the US Army, and the series of wildly challenging events that lead her to become a senator. This book was funny, tear jerking, and so so important. I am so thankful I know this strong ass woman‘s story!!!!

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

Senator Duckworth is truly an amazing woman. Her GI father and Thai mother had little money when they moved to Hawaii after the Vietnam War. Despite this, she went on to college and later graduate school, enlisting in the Army Reserves along the way. After being shot down during the Iraq War, she lost most of both legs. Still, she went on to become a mother twice in her 40s and a US Senator. Just wow. #audiobook #Iraq #ReadingAsia2021

Megabooks I may use this for #Thailand instead, and it would also work for #Singapore. 3y
rockpools Wow, that‘s quite some life story! 3y
TrishB She‘s pretty amazing. 3y
See All 6 Comments
Librarybelle Sounds like an inspiring story! 3y
Cinfhen Agreed!!! What an inspiring individual 🙌🏻 #stacked 3y
Megabooks @rockpools @TrishB @Librarybelle @Cinfhen she‘s amazingly strong and inspiring!! Really glad I read this!! 3y
102 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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8little_paws
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Pickpick

It's been way too long since i posted but this book was just fantastic because her life is incredible. She is such an amazing person, really recommend this memoir.

BarbaraBB So good to see you back 🤍🤍 4y
Megabooks I‘m excited to read this! 4y
33 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Jgotham
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1. Schedule a doctors appointment that they keep screwing up 😡 (3rd times a charm)
2. These custard and cream biscuits my gf grabbed at the Asian market
3. Evenings. My gf likes me to read when she drifts off.