The Burgundy Journey: Using Hope, Humor & Faith to Conquer Adversity.No Matter What

This new work details the everyday struggles Dorothy Champion Smaniotto faces as a result of her numerous health conditions and her son's struggle with Asperger's Syndrome.The Burgundy Journey is the incredible true story of a woman who has had to overcome numerous medical issues and heartbreaking losses and how she has dealt with those ups and downs. Her Antiphospholipid Syndrome diagnosis has caused most of the side effects and permanent disabilities she now suffers from. It also reveals how she has been denied numerous times for benefits for her illnesses because the agency says there is not enough medical evidence to support a claim, even though her doctors state otherwise.

The book also tells of how she is the mother of a son with Asperger's Syndrome (High Functioning Autism), and the daily struggles he himself has faced. One of those issues is how he was physically attacked in his special education classroom by two supposedly trained aides. That event has left him traumatized to this day. Through it all, she continues to keep a positive outlook, has a strong faith and maintains a sense of humor.

Smaniotto says, “The book tells how I try to always have a positive attitude and tackle things head on without giving up. Even though I have severe, permanent disabilities, I continue to live my life as best as I can, and do so by using humor, faith and hope to do that.” The author continues, “The book was meant to inform others about the APS and let them know that no matter how bad things seem, with the right attitude and state of mind, you can conquer any kind of adversity that you have been dealt.”