Gathering: Family, Grief, Resilience

Patsy Truxaw’s large Irish Catholic family, found by love but frayed by “bad wiring” faces the unthinkable when a tragic car accident claims the life of one sibling at barely twenty-one years old.

Set at the family home in Anaheim and migrating to communities along California’s coastline, Truxaw’s memoir explores the depths of grief, addiction, and mental illness while uncovering the fierce resilience that keeps a family connected. Through moments of loving chaos, heartbreak, and humor, Gathering reveals an enduring bond that transcends life’s harshest realities.

With incisive storytelling and raw honesty, Truxaw’s book is a testament to the power of familial bonds in the face of unimaginable pain.