“The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man,” by Kathleen Ingfried Haskins is a biography of a man named Lee Raymond Blanchette. Haskins and Lee knew each other for more than a decade. Having seen all the different sides of Lee, Haskins decided to write his biography to inspire people with physical disabilities. It is one of the three things that prompted the Minnesota-based writer to publish her book.

The book has twenty-four chapters detailing Lee’s goals, progress, and challenges as an amputee and someone who struggles with alcohol addiction. It contains approximate quotes and dialogues from Haskin’s memory that burns through her soul.

Haskins describes Lee as a charismatic fellow who can make friends everywhere through his talent, passion, and enthusiasm. Such qualities are evident through Lee’s seemingly impossible bucket list, including being able to cover the whole length of the Mississippi River by kayaking.

Haskins witnessed Lee’s dramatic transformation. From being a rough, angry alcoholic who constantly swore, Lee became a sensitive, kind, and gentle man. Lee has the heart to serve people; he is a volunteer Emergency Medical Responder (EMS) who has rescued several people. Haskins wants readers to know this side of Lee.

The author defines her relationship with Lee as something complex. Despite this, they did become excellent friends. Lee considers Haskins his older sister after she redeemed the kayak he had pawned and gave it to him as a Christmas present.

Haskins credits Lee as someone who taught him how to give freely and love passionately. Taking Lee’s words to heart, Haskins will provide all the royalties from the book to the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization for veterans and Lee’s favorite organization and to places that help alcoholics and drug addicts recover.

In this compelling tale of bravery, vulnerability, and passion, readers are guaranteed to gain more than a simple retelling of Lee’s life story. With heart and gratitude, the biography of Lee reminds readers that a messy life is no less than magical; a physical disability is not a hindrance to someone from living a fulfilling life. Every pitfall, accident, and failure builds a life rooted in service, a life Lee and Kathleen want for everyone. “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man” by Kathleen Ingfried Haskins is now available on Amazon.

“The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man”


Author | Kathleen Ingfried Haskins


Genre | Biography & Autobiography/Personal Memoirs


Publisher | Outskirts Press


Published date | December 20, 2020

Author


Kathleen Ingfried Haskins was in close contact with Lee for almost 11 years, becoming well-acquainted with his quirks. Earlier this year, she had an interview on “This week in America” with Ric Bratton. All royalties from her book “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man” will be given to the Wounded Warrior Project, and places that help alcoholics and drug addicts recover. Currently, Kathleen lives in Minneapolis near Lake of the Isles, loves to go for walks and play her lap dulcimer, and visits her parents as often as she can.

In an inspiring biography titled “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man,” Minneapolis-based writer Kathleen Ingfried Haskins shares a powerful tale of friendship and inspiration.

The book follows the life of a man named Lee Raymond Blanchette, whom Haskins first met when she looked for a housemate. Haskins describes Lee as a great man whose physical disability didn’t extinguish his will to dream. The true-to-life biography opens with Lee’s struggle as a boy and young man.

Life hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies for Lee, primarily due to his troubled youth. Despite this, he didn’t stop building a bucket list for himself. His goals include being the first above-the-knee amputee who would single-handedly cover the Mississippi River by kayaking. Such a dream reflects Lee’s desire to inspire other physically challenged individuals to conquer what seems impossible.

The book is composed of twenty-four chapters that chronicle the life of Lee through compelling stories and intimate conversations. Through these conversations, Haskins gained a deeper insight into the kind of man Lee was. Haskins did not sugarcoat Lee’s undesirable language and qualities. Instead, she portrays Lee with unerring honesty, that Lee is a talented artist and a special friend.

In the biography, Haskins shares stories from Lee’s past, understanding through experience the vulnerability that comes from facing adversity and disability. Lee’s strength is evident from the author’s presentations of their shared experiences as lifelong friends.

Haskins poured her heart out in this heartwarming book. “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man” by Kathleen Ingfried Haskins is an excellent read for someone who needs some dose of inspiration. The book is now available on Amazon.

“The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man”

Author | Kathleen Ingfried Haskins

Genre | Biography & Autobiography/Personal Memoirs

Publisher | Outskirts Press

Published date | December 20, 2020

Author

Kathleen Ingfried Haskins was in close contact with Lee for almost 11 years, becoming well-acquainted with his quirks. Earlier this year, she had an interview on “This week in America” with Ric Bratton. All royalties from her book “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man” will be given to differently-abled persons. Currently, Kathleen lives in Minneapolis near Lake of the Isles, loves to go for walks and play her lap dulcimer, and visits her parents as often as she can.

“The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man” by Kathleen Ingfried Haskins is a heartwarming biography that speaks of a friend whose handicap didn’t hinder his talent from shining. Based on a true story, Haskins tells the life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, whom she considers a wonderful friend.

This account brilliantly tells Lee’s struggles, goals, and adventures, including his dream to inspire other disabled people. Lee planned to make his dream into a reality by becoming the first above-the-knee amputee who would successfully kayak the longest river in North America, the Mississippi River. Lee also intended to swim with Winter the dolphin, who has a prosthetic tail. It aligns with his vision to uplift anyone with physical disabilities to dream big and live their best lives.

The book is divided into twenty-four chapters and introduces readers to a few pages detailing Lee’s passions. The book also narrates Lee’s childhood, replete with several highlights of his childhood, which led his path to cross ways with the author. Despite his troubled youth, Lee grew into a talented man, revered by his peers and neighbors.

In an interview, Haskins stated that she wants her readers to realize that they’re capable of anything they set their minds to, whether wholly or differently abled. She shared that regardless of whether it’s a skill her readers want to learn, an activity they want to do, or any progress they want to achieve by overcoming physiological barriers. Such barriers include disabling addiction or alcoholism, which Haskins believes that Lee also wanted to overcome.

Having known each other for over a decade, Lee described Haskins as the older sister he had never had. Readers, especially those who suffer from any means of disability, will indeed find inspiration from this book as it illustrates courage. Interested readers may grab a copy of Kathleen Ingfried Haskins’ “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man.” The book is now available on Amazon and on Barnes & Noble.

“The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man”

Author | Kathleen Ingfried Haskins

Genre | Biography & Autobiography/Personal Memoirs

Publisher | Outskirts Press

Published date | December 20, 2020

Author

Kathleen Ingfried Haskins was in close contact with Lee for almost 11 years, becoming well-acquainted with his quirks. Earlier this year, she had an interview on “This week in America” with Ric Bratton. All royalties from her book “The Unyielding Passion for Life of Lee Raymond Blanchette, a Remarkable Man” will be given to organizations helping differently-abled persons and those overcoming alcohol and drug addictions. Currently, Kathleen lives in Minneapolis near Lake of the Isles, loves to go for walks and play her lap dulcimer, and visits her parents as often as she can.