The novel Strength in What Remains, by author Tracy Kidder, is the inspiring story of a young refugee's escape from the civil war and genocide of his homeland in Burundi, Africa. At the age of twenty-four, the main character, Deogratias, Deo for short, manages to escape from his war-torn and burning home and reach New York City in 1994. His recovery is a long process as he is tormented by nightmares horrors regarding the gruesome events he encountered. During his journey he meets kind-hearted and good-willed strangers who help him realize his dream of working in the medical field. This story is an inspiring reminder of Deo's tenacious spirit in overcoming the nightmares that haunted him from his past to fulfill his highest aspirations of being a healer. Deo was displaced in Burundi, but nowhere was safe for him to go. He will have to overcome many obstacles just to make his long journey to America. He left his home and family in total devastation to seek a new life. He spoke French and struggled from the moment he stepped on the plane. He was a smart man, at the top of his class at his hometown's medical school, but none of that would help him now. He was practically illiterate. He struggled to find signs he could understand. Once in New York, he spent most of his money on books. He bought an English dictionary to help him understand the language. He spent a lot of his time in bookstores and libraries, even just looking at pictures. Kidder writes, "The stores he liked best had chairs where he could sit and look at the books he hoped to one day read." The language barrier was a tremendous barrier that he had to overcome. Deo continued his learning o...... middle of paper ......k child. I asked the mother why she came to work with such a sick child. And she said to me, 'I've already lost three children, and I know this will be the next one, whether I stay at home or come to work here. So it's better for me to join others and make my contribution, which will hopefully help save someone else's child, who will be sick but alive when you build your clinic.' With the help of the community, he doesn't let anything stop him from opening the clinic. Strength in What Remains is a story of redemption and the power to overcome. In the closing of the book, Deo says: “Let's work on the clinic. Let's leave this tragedy behind us, because remembering won't do anyone any good." Deo's search for the meaning of life lies within himself as he finds the strength to endure every harsh obstacle that comes his way with a heart full of forgiveness, against all odds..