Julie Yip-Williams

Julie-Yip Williams is the narrator. The book is her memoir about her battle with stage 4 colon cancer. She was born poor and blind in Communist Vietnam. Her grandmother had wanted her to be killed as an infant. Her grandmother said that she would always be blind, and that as an adult, she would be a beggar. After the grandmother’s persistent demands, Julie’s parents eventually, sadly, took their daughter to an herbalist to kill her. However, he refused. Even though the grandmother could not have Julie killed, she prevented her from getting nourishing food and breast milk.

Julie’s family eventually fled from Communist Vietnam. They went on a crowded boat to Hong Kong. Then they came to the United States. Julie received sight-saving surgery. Even though her vision was still damaged—and she was medically blind—she could discern shapes and colors, and she...