Book excerpt: My memoir begins with a massive heart attack that leaves me in a vegetative state with no possibility of recovery, according to my doctors. What the doctors didn't know about me was I neither counted anyone in nor counted anyone out--especially me. I lived my life overcoming multitudinous challenges, living by the adage "All I need is a tiny chance, and I'll make it work." My story is delivered from a 5'4" frame, being constantly told "I can't" or "you won't." I was a make-believe Christian with the gift of gab and full of crime. This memoir shines a light on alcoholism, drug abuse, physical abuse, ever-present crime, and consistently circumventing all challenges.