A father’s exhilarating and funny love letter to his daughter with Down syndrome, this inspirational memoir shows how a vibrant and infectious approach to life has something to teach all of us about how we can better live our own.

Jillian Daugherty was born with Down syndrome. The day they brought her home from the hospital, her parents, Paul and Kerry, were flooded with worry and uncertainty, but also overwhelming love, which they channeled to “the job of building the better Jillian.” While their daughter had special needs, they refused to allow her to grow up needy—“Expect, Don’t Accept” became their mantra. Little did they know how ready Jillian was to meet their challenge.

Paul tells stories from Jillian’s mischievous childhood and moves to her early adulthood, tracing her journey to find happiness and purpose in her adult life, sharing endearing anecdotes about their powerful father-daughter bond as well as stories about her inspiring triumphs. Having graduated from high school and college, Jillian now works to support herself, and has met the love of her life and her husband-to-be, Ryan.

In An Uncomplicated Life, the parent learns as much about life from the child as the child does from the parent. Through her unmitigated love for others, her sparkling charisma, and her boundless capacity for joy, Jillian has become an uplifting and heartfelt inspiration to those around her to live better and more fully. The day Jillian was born, Paul says, was the last bad day. As he lovingly writes, “Jillian is a soul map of our best intentions”—a model of grace, boundless joy, and love for all of us.

What happens when the greatest challenge of your life becomes your greatest gift?

Special Needs Parenting: Follow the family’s journey guided by their powerful mantra, “Expect, Don’t Accept,” refusing to let a diagnosis define their daughter’s potential.
Unconditional Love: Discover how a father, intent on “building the better Jillian,” finds that his daughter has even more to teach him about joy, charisma, and living fully.
A Heartwarming Story of Triumph: Cheer for Jillian as she defies expectations, graduating from high school and college, finding purposeful work, and meeting the love of her life, Ryan.
More Than a Memoir: Experience a love letter from a father to his daughter, who he calls a “soul map of our best intentions,” offering a model of grace and boundless joy for all of us.