In this moving memoir, Shirley Smith, wife of NBA Champion and All-Star J. R. Smith, tells the story of giving birth to one of the youngest premature babies to survive—using her experience to heighten awareness of the crisis of Black maternal and infant health and pay tribute to Black women’s resilience.Shirley Smith and her husband, NBA champion J. R. Smith, looked forward to the birth of their second child, Dakota, as they celebrated New Year’s Eve with family at home. After dinner, Shirley felt a sharp pain that worsened through the night. Only 21-weeks pregnant, she was in labor. Mama Bear is the story of her 141-day ordeal, from entering a hospital emergency room on New Year’s morning and giving birth to her premature newborn, to taking her daughter home for the first time the following May.

In telling her story, written with Zelda Lockhart, Shirley shines a spotlight on the dangers Black women face during pregnancy. Black mothers are twice as likely as their white counterparts to go into labor prematurely and lose their babies—and almost four times as likely to die giving birth. Neither socioeconomic status nor access to quality healthcare seem to matter. Tennis champion Serena Williams experienced life-threatening complications during childbirth, and Beyoncé suffered toxemia with her premature twins. 

Shirley chronicles the emotional and physical battle she and J. R. endured to save their daughter, and her continual struggles to support her family while nurturing herself. Like many Black women, Shirley was raised to believe that pain is a sign of weakness. The one who kept it together for everybody, she had always put herself second. She parallels this difficult journey to her childhood growing up with an addict mother, and having to raise herself and her brother from a very young age. 

A chronicle of pain, loss, and infidelity, Mama Bear is ultimately a story of love—a celebration of community, family, faith, healing, the maternal bond, and one woman’s indomitable spirit. 

Even though shes glad for the move, Roses memory remains vivid, and she yearns for the love she lost more than ten years ago. She can still envision the growling of the cougar when it attacked her horse, Queenie, as she spent the evening with her boyfriend, Donavin. Even more devastating was the reaction of Donavins parents; they disapproved of their son riding with a simple country girl. His family had packed up without even a goodbye. She never saw him again.

Determined, Rose tries to move her life forward, but strange events intervene. Her life, her job, and her welfare could be at stake if her enemies get their way in A Canadian Rose.

Olivia hopes that getting away from the fast pace of the city will help her to re-evaluate her life. Her fifteen-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa, has moved out, leaving Olivia to put her life back together. On her journey to the lodge, she meets the owner, Vincent Randall; she soon discovers they have much in common. And with a host of relatives, friends, and strangers, they become embroiled in an escapade that speaks of both love and heartache.

Played out against the serenity of a northern wilderness tourist camp on the shores of a pristine lake, Olivia is able to salvage the pieces of her relationship with her daughter and summon the courage to venture into new relationships.

Listening to the Voice of God is your invitation to take a break and claim precious treasure from the Word of God. Add faith, and the treasure will multiply in your heart and enrich your life.

Youll gather gems of wisdom. Youll relive the move of God in ancient times, and witness him speaking today.

Take your break with an open heart and mind. Shut out the worlds distractions. Claim your treasure from Gods boundless supply.

In this moving memoir, Shirley Smith, wife of NBA Champion and All-Star J. R. Smith, tells the story of giving birth to one of the youngest premature babies to survive—using her experience to heighten awareness of the crisis of Black maternal and infant health and pay tribute to Black women’s resilience.Shirley Smith and her husband, NBA champion J. R. Smith, looked forward to the birth of their second child, Dakota, as they celebrated New Year’s Eve with family at home. After dinner, Shirley felt a sharp pain that worsened through the night. Only 21-weeks pregnant, she was in labor. Mama Bear is the story of her 141-day ordeal, from entering a hospital emergency room on New Year’s morning and giving birth to her premature newborn, to taking her daughter home for the first time the following May.

In telling her story, written with Zelda Lockhart, Shirley shines a spotlight on the dangers Black women face during pregnancy. Black mothers are twice as likely as their white counterparts to go into labor prematurely and lose their babies—and almost four times as likely to die giving birth. Neither socioeconomic status nor access to quality healthcare seem to matter. Tennis champion Serena Williams experienced life-threatening complications during childbirth, and Beyoncé suffered toxemia with her premature twins. 

Shirley chronicles the emotional and physical battle she and J. R. endured to save their daughter, and her continual struggles to support her family while nurturing herself. Like many Black women, Shirley was raised to believe that pain is a sign of weakness. The one who kept it together for everybody, she had always put herself second. She parallels this difficult journey to her childhood growing up with an addict mother, and having to raise herself and her brother from a very young age. 

A chronicle of pain, loss, and infidelity, Mama Bear is ultimately a story of love—a celebration of community, family, faith, healing, the maternal bond, and one woman’s indomitable spirit. 

Even though shes glad for the move, Roses memory remains vivid, and she yearns for the love she lost more than ten years ago. She can still envision the growling of the cougar when it attacked her horse, Queenie, as she spent the evening with her boyfriend, Donavin. Even more devastating was the reaction of Donavins parents; they disapproved of their son riding with a simple country girl. His family had packed up without even a goodbye. She never saw him again.

Determined, Rose tries to move her life forward, but strange events intervene. Her life, her job, and her welfare could be at stake if her enemies get their way in A Canadian Rose.

Olivia hopes that getting away from the fast pace of the city will help her to re-evaluate her life. Her fifteen-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa, has moved out, leaving Olivia to put her life back together. On her journey to the lodge, she meets the owner, Vincent Randall; she soon discovers they have much in common. And with a host of relatives, friends, and strangers, they become embroiled in an escapade that speaks of both love and heartache.

Played out against the serenity of a northern wilderness tourist camp on the shores of a pristine lake, Olivia is able to salvage the pieces of her relationship with her daughter and summon the courage to venture into new relationships.

Listening to the Voice of God is your invitation to take a break and claim precious treasure from the Word of God. Add faith, and the treasure will multiply in your heart and enrich your life.

Youll gather gems of wisdom. Youll relive the move of God in ancient times, and witness him speaking today.

Take your break with an open heart and mind. Shut out the worlds distractions. Claim your treasure from Gods boundless supply.