The discussion is hosted by Adult Services and will be held in the Slater Room. Registration is required by visiting warren-pa.whofi.com/calendar/event/288970.

Sumner, a first-time author, is a retired imaging services manager who worked 43 years at Warren General Hospital, including 33 years in leadership. She lives in Warren with her husband, Ken, and their adopted black labs, Bailey and Dakota.

Sumner’s only child, Josh, passed away at a young age following lifelong health challenges. To honor his memory, she founded Close to the Heart, a local transplant support group that provided emotional assistance to transplant patients and their families for 20 years.

Taming Josh’s Dragon chronicles Josh’s life, his health struggles, and his journey through organ transplantation. Sumner shares her family’s experience with candor and resilience, offering insights for others navigating the challenges of organ transplants. The book also explores grief, healing, and finding a “new normal” after loss.

Pictured is the cover of her book: Taming Josh's Dragon: A Mother's Tale of a Life Too Brief

“I consciously made the choice to remain here after lengthy contemplation of and planning for the unthinkable: joining him in the Hereafter,” Sumner wrote on her website. “You must develop your own totally new normal…a fair trade, indeed, considering that you gain valuable additional time with your loved one.”

Signed copies of Taming Josh’s Dragon will be available for purchase at the event. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance to ensure enough copies are available.