The Awakening of HK Derryberry
My Unlikely Friendship with the Boy Who Remembers Everything
- History & Biography
- Publisher: W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2017
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Publisher's Description
The Awakening of HK Derryberry is the inspiring story of the amazing relationship between a successful business executive and a young, disabled boy with a dismal future. Little did Jim Bradford know the transformational potential of that friendship—for HK and himself. HK Derryberry came into the world with the odds stacked heavily against him. He was taken from his unmarried mother’s womb three months prematurely when she was killed in a car wreck. After ninety-six days of seesawing between life and death, HK’s grandmother took him home. One Saturday morning, Jim Bradford, a successful businessman in his mid-fifties, walked into Mrs. Winner’s Chicken and Biscuits and saw a nine-year-old’s head pressed against a broken plastic boom box with a crooked antenna. He couldn’t help but notice the long, white plastic braces on each of the child’s legs. Mr. Bradford learned that HK’s grandmother had been forced to bring him to the fast-food restaurant where she worked, leaving him to sit alone all day at a small table with only his boom box for company. Every Saturday Jim felt drawn back to the restaurant to meet with HK and began spending every weekend with him. Eventually it became apparent that buried beneath HK’s severe disabilities was a spectacular ability. He was diagnosed with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), which enabled him to remember everything that happened to him since the age of three. Less than one hundred people have been diagnosed with HSAM, but none of them have the physical disabilities of HK Derryberry. In this moving true story, you will: Explore Jim and HK’s enduring sixteen-year friendship and the discovery of HK’s remarkable gift of memory Be inspired to look deeper into the way you see others See how God works in the lives of His children, despite their circumstances This incredible story shines a light on the struggles and the courage people with physical, emotional, and mental limitations have. Be prepared to see how God works through it all to bring joy into the lives of those who trust Him.
Endorsements (7)
“This is a story of one man’s choice to love and invest in the life of a special-needs little boy and how that one choice transformed them both. You will laugh and cry and be moved to love even the unlikely, as Jim did, and never to give up, no matter what challenges you face, like HK. This heartwarming story will change you for good!”
“A true delight! Every person should read Jim Bradford and HK’s touching story. Your heart will be uplifted, your soul awakened. It reminds us that every life carries enormous worth. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting HK—he inspires me! I’m certain his story will do the same for you.”
“One of our biggest mistakes as humans is placing limits on people who are different than us; people who are like HK Derryberry. Born prematurely, HK is blind, has cerebral palsy, and has countless other challenges. Yet HK is the most incredible and unique person I have ever met in my life. If you ever meet him, I can promise you’ll never forget him; and, because of his amazing memory, he won’t forget you either. This book will inspire you to look deeper into the way you see others.”
“To think that this man, Jim Bradford, worked alongside us mere mortals was a revelation. How many other people out there are doing remarkable things with their lives right under our noses? Jim and HK’s story is uplifting and an example of what love can do. It demonstrates how paying attention, and looking beyond human boundaries, can expose something greater than a physical body. It’s the human spirit.”
“The journey of HK Derryberry and Jim Bradford is truly an amazing one, a moving story like no other you have ever heard. If this one doesn’t warm your heart, check your pulse. The story of this unlikely duo—Bradford, a successful and stylish business executive, and a young blind boy with multiple disabilities and raised on the margins of society—will keep you turning pages well into the night. The results, seventeen years from their initial meeting, will surprise and inspire you to be more aware of the opportunities God puts in your path all the time.”
Dr. Royce Money
“Wow! This book is a must-read. And to think HK is my friend. What a joy it is to recommend this book to people of all ages. Jim and HK’s story is making a difference in the lives of people everywhere.”
“As a scientist, I was completely blown away by HK’s phenomenal ability to recall his past, but over time his story and our friendship transcended science. I am a better person for having known him and being able to call him my friend.”
Dr. Brandon Ally
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