Introduction
Summary of the Book Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder Before we proceed, let’s look into a brief overview of the book. Imagine a life where the ground beneath your feet shakes with unpredictable dangers, where home is not a shelter from nightmares but the place you must flee. Picture yourself arriving in a massive city, surrounded by people who speak a language you cannot understand. No family waits for you, and no familiar faces greet you. This was Deo’s reality: a boy turned young man, escaping Burundi’s brutality to land in New York with almost nothing. Yet, woven through his struggles is a thread of hope spun by strangers who offered help, kindness, and faith in his potential. In these pages, you step into his shoes, feeling the uncertainty, tasting his fear, and then witnessing the resilience that propelled him to become a doctor who transforms suffering into healing.
Chapter 1: Discovering the Fragile Roots of a Young Boy’s Life Amid Untamed Fields and Silent Struggles.
In the quiet hills and valleys of Burundi, a young boy named Deo spent his early life surrounded by fields that stretched beyond the horizon, their grasses swaying gently in the wind. Cows roamed these lands, their soft, lowing sounds blending with the distant hum of insects. For Deo and his siblings, these cows were not just animals; they were signs of wealth, security, and stability for the family. His father’s small farm, pieced together through persistence and modest means, stood as proof that hard work and careful stewardship could provide a form of sustenance, even in a land lacking modern comforts. The thin, clay walls and simple thatched roofs didn’t just offer shelter; they protected a family whose greatest treasure was each other’s company and well-being.
Life in this community, though, was far from easy. The village did not have electricity, and safe drinking water was nearly impossible to find. Illnesses caused by parasites and infections were common, as clean medical care was out of reach. Children learned early on to cope with stomach pains, fever, and diarrhea, knowing that the nearest clinic was too distant or nonexistent. Day-to-day life meant facing these hardships head-on, especially for Deo, who, as a child, observed how his parents worked tirelessly to raise crops, maintain the herd, and keep the family together. Although burdens were heavy, there was a quiet resilience in these people who understood that survival depended on cooperation and humility.
Amid these challenges, Deo’s parents firmly believed in the transformative power of education. While many families thought that learning to read and write would not fill empty stomachs, Deo’s parents saw schooling as a bridge leading their children toward a more stable future. They pushed their children to attend classes, even when school was far away and the roads unsafe. They believed knowledge could help them rise above the hardships that had become part of their everyday reality. Inside the cramped classrooms, Deo discovered books that introduced him to worlds beyond his green, rolling homeland. In these pages, he imagined possibilities that extended beyond tending cows, plowing fields, and enduring the whims of nature.
Yet, his school environment wasn’t gentle. Teachers often resorted to harsh punishments, using eucalyptus branches or rulers to discipline students for minor mistakes. The air sometimes carried a tense silence, with students too afraid to speak out of turn. Despite these obstacles, Deo excelled. He tackled lessons with the same perseverance that he brought to his farm chores. His consistently high marks on nationwide exams allowed him to pass through educational gateways normally sealed for children of poor rural backgrounds. Eventually, his talents carried him to one of Burundi’s best high schools, and later, to medical school at the University of Burundi. Here, within a system fraught with political discrimination and sporadic violence, Deo nurtured a dream of one day providing real medical care to people like his own family.
Chapter 2: Stepping into Darkness: When Civil War Forces a Young Student to Flee in Desperation.
Just as Deo began to settle into the routine of medical studies, the year 1993 brought unimaginable chaos and terror. Burundi, already strained by ethnic tensions and unequal power structures, erupted into civil war following the assassination of President Melchior Ndadaye, who belonged to the Hutu majority. Rumors spread like wildfire: Tutsi-led military factions were suspected of murdering the president, triggering widespread retaliation. The fragile peace that had barely held communities together shattered overnight. Many feared for their lives, uncertain whether they would wake to find their homes burned to the ground or their loved ones missing. For students like Deo, who was Tutsi, each moment became fraught with fear. The promise of medical training and a brighter future receded into a haze of panic and uncertainty.
On a fateful morning in October 1993, Deo realized that his mentors at the hospital had disappeared without explanation. That day he understood that the world he once knew had collapsed. Without waiting for instructions, he hurriedly gathered what few belongings he could carry. He slipped into the countryside, where smoke and ash seemed to hang permanently in the sky. As he trudged silently over dusty paths, he passed burned houses and stumbled over lifeless bodies. The country roads he once saw as ordinary passages now resembled scenes from a nightmare. Each step required vigilance, as any encounter with strangers could turn deadly. Ties that once bound neighbors together were shredded, and every look, every whispered word, carried accusations and danger.
Hoping to find some measure of safety, Deo made the desperate decision to flee to Rwanda. Yet, upon reaching refugee camps, he realized these makeshift shelters were filled mostly with Hutus who, in turn, might be hostile to a Tutsi like him. Thousands of desperate souls crammed together under rough tarps or gathered in unsafe clearings. Tension simmered constantly; every day felt like stepping onto a trap that might spring without warning. Learning that remaining there could mean certain death, Deo set out again by nightfall. With quiet footsteps, he retraced his way back into Burundi, this time toward the capital, Bujumbura. He knew it was not safe either, but compared to Rwanda, it felt marginally less life-threatening.
Returning to Bujumbura offered no guarantee of comfort. He found no word of his family and dared not linger too long in places where he might be recognized or accused. Still, he could only press forward, propelled by the faint hope that somehow he might reconnect with loved ones or at least survive until a calmer future might dawn. With the chaos of war swirling around him, he learned that survival was sometimes about making decisions without any good options. He had become a wanderer in his own country, a medical student turned fugitive, clutching to the fragments of his past. It was within this darkness that a single idea took root in his mind: if he survived, he would find a way to continue the journey he once started as a young boy dreaming of healing the sick.
Chapter 3: Stranded in a Strange Land: Struggling for Survival in New York’s Hidden Corners.
By 1994, it became clear that staying in Burundi could mean certain death. Thanks to a wealthy friend named Jean and his father’s connections, Deo managed to secure a commercial visa and a plane ticket out of Africa. He boarded an airplane bound for New York City, a place he knew almost nothing about. He arrived with a mere $200 and no English to help him navigate the vast metropolis. Suddenly, he was immersed in the chaos of airport terminals, where announcements crackled in a language he couldn’t understand. Strangers hurried past him, wheeling suitcases, hailing cabs, and rushing off to destinations he could not imagine. Despite escaping war-torn Burundi, he now faced a new battle: survival in an unknown and overwhelming city.
At immigration, Deo’s French did not help, and he risked being turned away from the United States. Just as he began to panic, fate brought him a savior: Mohamed, a Senegalese airport employee. Mohamed stepped forward to translate, convincing immigration officials to let Deo through. But Mohamed did much more than that. Sensing Deo’s desperation, he offered him a place to sleep, sharing his cramped, rundown apartment. Though conditions were harsh, at least Deo had a roof over his head. Mohamed also found him a job delivering groceries—a grueling, low-wage work that forced Deo to pedal through unfamiliar neighborhoods for hours. He earned only $15 a day, working 12 hours shifts, six days a week. Yet, for Deo, this punishing schedule was better than sleeping on the streets.
New York City’s streets, though filled with promise for some, were cold and uncaring to many newcomers without language or connections. Deo learned that landlords rarely trusted someone with no credit, no references, and no stable history. His nights were restless and his days exhausting. With Mohamed’s departure looming, fear knotted in his stomach. Without Mohamed’s protection, could he safely remain in the abandoned tenements? He quickly realized that many of these places were filled with people on the edge of society, some of whom were violent, all of whom were desperate. Indeed, when Mohamed left, Deo was robbed and threatened, forced to flee once again—this time into Central Park, where he spent several weeks sleeping on benches and surviving on scraps. The loneliness weighed heavily, and each day felt like an endless struggle.
Ultimately, Deo’s desperate circumstances led him to small acts of hope. While delivering groceries to a church in Manhattan, he mustered the courage to ask a woman named Sharon McKenna for help finding a doctor. He had become sick after drinking dirty water in the park. Sharon, touched by his plea, introduced him to a physician who examined him for free. Sharon did more than that: she introduced Deo’s story to Nancy and Charlie Wolfe, a kind couple who opened their home to him. In their apartment, Deo found not only safety but encouragement. The Wolfes funded his English classes and guided him toward a real education. After so much wandering and fear, he finally had a tiny spark of hope that he might build a life worth living in this foreign world.
Chapter 4: Unlikely Allies in a Concrete Jungle: How Kind Strangers Became a Makeshift Family.
The Wolfes, whom Sharon McKenna introduced Deo to, could not have been more different from the people he met at abandoned tenements. Their home offered warmth, understanding, and a willingness to help without any promise of reward. Instead of feeling like a stranger, Deo found himself treated as a valued guest, someone whose struggles were recognized and whose dreams deserved nurturing. They gave him an allowance so he no longer had to endure the grueling delivery job. They encouraged him to learn English, supporting his enrollment in language programs. For the first time since leaving Burundi, Deo felt a sense of stability and belonging. The Wolfes’ compassion demonstrated that, in a city known for its hustle and anonymity, empathy could still flourish.
Sharon McKenna, the dedicated church worker who introduced Deo to the Wolfes, was equally vital in his transformation. She had chosen a life dedicated to aiding the needy, the lost, and the struggling. Her work at the Church of St. Thomas More exposed her to countless people in desperate situations, and when she met Deo, she saw in him not only a survivor but a young man whose quiet determination could lead him toward greatness. Her introduction to the Wolfes was no small act; it bridged worlds that otherwise might never have touched. It proved that one person’s kindness could set off a chain reaction, guiding Deo from sleeping in parks toward the halls of higher education.
With English classes at Hunter College and later Columbia’s American Language Program, Deo’s understanding of his new environment deepened. He spent hours pouring over vocabulary lists, practicing basic phrases, and gradually growing confident enough to navigate the city’s complex systems. Each new word learned was a step away from helplessness, each completed sentence a brick in the foundation of his future. The Wolfes’ financial support allowed him to focus on learning rather than working endless hours at menial jobs. This freedom pushed Deo forward; it let him remember why he fled Burundi in the first place and why he once dreamed of becoming a doctor.
As Deo settled into this new reality, he realized how remarkable it was that strangers had stepped in to fill the enormous gaps in his life. Where governments, systems, or institutions failed, compassionate individuals had emerged like small lanterns in the dark. Their interventions might seem humble—offering a bed, paying for tuition, teaching English—but to Deo, these acts were lifelines. They turned what could have been a grim, endless struggle into a path lined with possibilities. Through Sharon McKenna, Nancy and Charlie Wolfe, and a few understanding doctors and teachers, Deo began to believe that he could not only survive in America but grow, learn, and one day give back to others who suffered as he once did.
Chapter 5: Crafting a New Identity Through Education: Entering Columbia and Rediscovering Family Ties.
By 1995, Deo’s English had improved significantly. He decided to attempt something unimaginable to the young cowherd he once was in Burundi: he applied to Columbia University. This step demanded immense courage. He lacked proper transcripts, as paperwork from his Burundi medical school was lost or inaccessible. At first, the school back home considered him deceased, which complicated retrieving records. Yet, persistence and patience eventually overcame these bureaucratic hurdles. With the Wolfes’ financial support and the results of his strong admissions tests, Deo secured a spot as a freshman in Columbia’s biochemistry program. To him, the significance of attending such a prestigious university did not fully sink in until he heard classmates mention how challenging it was to get in. Only then did he realize how extraordinary this achievement was.
Studying at Columbia meant endless hours in laboratories and libraries. It meant grappling with complex scientific concepts and philosophical discussions he never imagined he would encounter. He tackled subjects like organic chemistry and explored philosophical texts, trying to understand both the tiny molecules that form life and the grand ideas that inspire humanity. This intellectual environment was a stark contrast to his earlier life in Burundi, where survival and simple labor took precedence over deep academic inquiry. Now, with each lecture attended and each textbook read, he sharpened the tools that would help him shape his future. He aimed to gain skills that, one day, would enable him to return home and help others in profound, lasting ways.
Amid his academic journey, Deo received news that shocked and delighted him: his family, whom he feared dead, had survived the horrors of war. He learned this through careful, occasional phone calls back to Burundi. The news felt like a miracle. He had always imagined the worst—that his parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles had perished in the violence. While it was true that he lost many relatives to the conflict, the knowledge that his parents were alive filled him with renewed purpose. He wanted to support them, to ease their burdens. From his limited student funds, he managed to send money back, taking odd jobs as a tutor or bartender. In this way, he stretched a lifeline between his new American life and the family he left behind.
This reconnection with his family didn’t just comfort Deo; it motivated him. He was no longer working solely for his own future. He carried the hopes of those back home who had endured so much. Their survival story reminded him that fleeing from war did not cut all ties. Across oceans and continents, family bonds persisted. Although he faced daily academic challenges, and navigated cultural differences and financial difficulties, knowing his family was alive and depending on him helped anchor his purpose. With each passing semester, Deo inched closer to his degree, and each small success reflected not only personal achievement but also a tribute to the resilience of his entire family.
Chapter 6: A Doctor’s Dream Deferred: Overcoming Obstacles to Medical School Amid Immigration Hurdles.
After completing his degree at Columbia, Deo yearned to become a doctor. Yet, another barrier blocked his path: he was not a permanent resident of the United States. Medical schools often required permanent residency or citizenship for admission. Without a green card, no matter how talented or dedicated he was, doors remained shut. It felt like a cruel twist of fate that after surviving war, mastering a new language, and succeeding academically, he would be stymied by a legal status he could not easily change.
Determined not to let paperwork define his destiny, Deo looked for other ways to stay connected to medicine. He studied public health issues and read voraciously about healthcare disparities. He discovered a book called Infections and Inequalities, authored by Dr. Paul Farmer, a doctor deeply involved in improving healthcare for the poorest populations worldwide. This book resonated deeply with Deo’s experiences in Burundi, where people suffered preventable illnesses simply because basic medical resources were absent. Dr. Farmer’s words sparked a sense of recognition. Here was a person who understood the injustices Deo had seen firsthand. He decided he must meet Dr. Farmer, hoping that this connection might guide him closer to his professional dreams.
Fate aligned with Deo’s determination. By the time Deo moved to Boston, he learned Dr. Farmer would give a lecture there. After the talk, Deo introduced himself, cautiously and politely, not sure if his life story would matter to this accomplished physician. But Dr. Farmer was both intrigued and touched by Deo’s journey. He admired his resilience and saw potential in him. Soon, Dr. Farmer encouraged Deo to assist Partners in Health (PIH), the organization Farmer co-founded. Working with PIH allowed Deo to remain close to the field he loved. He read medical literature, handled small research tasks, and observed how dedicated people could build healthcare solutions in places once considered hopeless.
As Deo lent his small contributions to PIH, he also waited anxiously for news about his green card application. Thanks to the tireless efforts of James O’Malley, a lawyer friend of the Wolfes, Deo finally gained permanent residency. With that, his long-held dream materialized: he could now apply to medical schools. Supported by Dr. Farmer’s mentorship and the encouragement of the Wolfes, Deo was accepted into Dartmouth Medical School. The feeling was profound. He had taken another step along a winding road that began in a Burundian pasture. Obstacles remained, but he was closer than ever to practicing medicine and helping communities like the one he had fled, transforming hardship into healing.
Chapter 7: Hidden Motivations of Good Samaritans: Understanding the Generous Hearts That Helped Deo Thrive.
Curiosity drove the author of Deo’s story, Tracy Kidder, to ask what inspired these unlikely benefactors. What made Nancy and Charlie Wolfe open their doors to a stranger? Why did Sharon McKenna take time to help a homeless young man with no English skills? By understanding their backgrounds, we see that generosity often emerges from personal experience and empathy. For Nancy and Charlie Wolfe, the connection to Africa was personal. They had lived in Nigeria for two years, witnessing unrest and violence firsthand. When they heard about Burundi’s Civil War, the memories they carried from Nigeria sharpened their concern. They knew what it meant to face chaos far from home, and so they welcomed Deo as if healing a wound in the world’s fabric.
Charlie, a sociologist with rural roots, felt a natural kinship to Deo’s upbringing on a farm. Although their cultural contexts were vastly different, something in Deo’s quiet resilience reminded Charlie of the honesty and grit of people tied closely to the land. Nancy, upon meeting the thin, exhausted Deo, felt an immediate maternal instinct. They had no children of their own, and perhaps, in helping Deo, they satisfied an unspoken longing to nurture and protect. Over time, their initial kindness blossomed into deep affection. For them, helping Deo was never a one-sided act of charity—it enriched their own lives, giving them purpose and broadening their understanding of human compassion.
Sharon McKenna’s story was similar in spirit. She chose to serve in a church environment where troubled souls sought comfort, guidance, and aid. By dedicating herself to listening, understanding, and easing burdens, she made helping a natural part of her life. When Deo appeared asking for a doctor, she could have turned him away. Instead, she embraced the opportunity to make a difference, connecting him to medical help and later to the Wolfes. Sharon understood that one good deed can spark a chain of support. Deo’s eventual success affirmed her faith in kindness and reinforced the simple yet powerful truth: if you extend a hand to someone in need, you might help lift them toward a brighter destiny.
What these stories of kindness teach is that compassion often lies dormant until opportunity awakens it. The Wolfes and Sharon McKenna did not see themselves as heroes. They were ordinary people who made the extraordinary decision to care. Their willingness to empathize with another’s struggles allowed Deo’s path to shift dramatically. Instead of being another tragic refugee story in a big city, Deo became a scholar, a doctor-in-training, and eventually a figure of hope for his homeland. In helping Deo, they helped themselves see humanity’s capacity for goodness. This silent network of kindness proved that even in places dominated by wealth, competition, and indifference, genuine warmth and moral courage still thrive.
Chapter 8: Returning to Scarred Landscapes: A Healer’s Quest to Rebuild Health and Hope in Burundi.
After graduating from medical school, Deo felt a persistent pull calling him back to Burundi. The Civil War there had ended, but deep wounds remained. Most rural areas still suffered from a lack of healthcare facilities, and people continued to face easily preventable diseases. Inspired by his work with Partners in Health, and guided by the lessons he learned in the United States, Deo returned to his homeland in 2006 with a singular mission: to establish a clinic that would deliver free, quality medical care to communities like the one he grew up in.
Standing on the familiar but changed soil of his hometown, Deo saw not only the ghosts of the past but also the seeds of a brighter future. He remembered barefoot childhood days, the herds of cows, and the kindness and resilience of his parents. This time, he came armed with medical knowledge, a network of supporters, and a determination forged in fire. He teamed up with American friends, fellow doctors, and dedicated volunteers who helped raise funds and design the clinic. With incredible patience and persistence, they began constructing buildings that would one day house doctors, nurses, and essential medicines that could save countless lives.
In November 2007, Deo’s dream sprang to life as the clinic welcomed its first patients. Equipped with Burundian nurses, a local doctor, and supportive international staff, this was no mere structure of brick and mortar—it was a beacon of compassion. Within a year, more than 20,000 patients passed through its doors, each one treated with respect and without charge. The clinic offered more than healthcare; it offered dignity. Through it, Deo hoped to show that healing was not limited to bandages and prescriptions. Healing also meant acknowledging people’s worth, understanding their struggles, and restoring their faith in a system that had once failed them.
Rebuilding his parents’ home and repairing his old elementary school were other small but meaningful steps. Deo intended these acts to reclaim what violence and fear had stolen. He wanted to show that even after war tears a society apart, individuals can stitch it back together through kindness, effort, and shared goals. In returning, Deo had come full circle—from a frightened refugee running for his life to a determined physician transforming his homeland’s future. The clinic stood as proof that hardship can give rise to hope, and that a single individual, with the help of many caring hands, can restore life to a wounded community.
Chapter 9: Weaving Lives Together: A Journey from Lost Boyhood to Skilled Healer in a Global Landscape.
Deo’s journey spans more than mere geographical distances; it stretches from innocence to awakening, from helplessness to purposeful action. In Burundi, he learned perseverance in a harsh environment. In Rwanda, he learned fear and the instinct to survive. In New York, he learned the importance of community, even among strangers. Across these terrains, he stitched together pieces of his identity, refusing to let tragedy define him. Instead, he channeled pain into determination, sorrow into empathy, and confusion into curiosity. Each obstacle he overcame added depth to his character, like layers of paint on a canvas forming a portrait of resilience.
Along the way, Deo discovered that knowledge could bridge worlds. Through English classes, college lectures, and late-night study sessions, he acquired the tools needed to navigate unfamiliar systems. His degrees did not just measure academic success; they symbolized triumph over the barriers that once made him feel invisible and powerless. Armed with education, he became more than a refugee—he became a healer, an innovator, and a source of hope. By understanding diseases and the social inequalities that allow them to thrive, he positioned himself to tackle problems at their roots, offering cures that went beyond band-aids.
Even more powerful was the influence of the people who helped Deo along the way. Sharon McKenna, Nancy and Charlie Wolfe, Dr. Paul Farmer, and countless others proved that human hearts could open wide for strangers. The chain of kindness they forged for Deo transformed the narrative. He became living proof that generosity can alter destinies and that a single act of empathy can have a rippling effect through time and space. The relationships he built and the trust he earned highlighted one undeniable truth: no one truly achieves greatness alone.
By eventually building a clinic in Burundi, Deo expressed gratitude to the land that raised him and the strangers who saved him. He created a legacy that reverberated through communities who once had no reason to believe in miracles. In caring for patients who arrived scared and sick, he honored the memory of those who were lost and celebrated those who survived. His presence in Burundi now blends the lessons learned from distant shores with the unwavering resolve inherited from his humble childhood. Deo’s life story illustrates that strength can emerge from what remains after unimaginable suffering. It teaches that healing is not just the ending of pain, but the creation of opportunities for others to thrive.
All about the Book
In ‘Strength in What Remains’, Tracy Kidder narrates the inspiring journey of a Burundian refugee, shedding light on resilience, hope, and the power of human connection amid adversity. A must-read for those seeking purpose.
Tracy Kidder is an acclaimed American author known for his compelling narratives and deep empathy, exploring themes of resilience and the human spirit in contemporary society.
Social Workers, Psychologists, Human Rights Advocates, Educators, Refugee Assistance Coordinators
Reading Memoirs, Volunteering, Writing, Traveling for Cultural Understanding, Engaging in Social Justice Activities
Refugee Crises, Trauma and Recovery, Cultural Identity, Human Rights Violations
Fear is a human response; it’s how we respond to it that shapes our lives.
Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Malala Yousafzai
National Book Award, Christopher Award, American Book Award
1. What challenges did Deogratias face in his journey? #2. How did trauma shape Deogratias’ identity and actions? #3. What role does hope play in Deogratias’ story? #4. How can compassion foster resilience in adversity? #5. In what ways did community support affect Deogratias? #6. What lessons can be learned from Deogratias’ experiences? #7. How does the concept of home evolve in hardships? #8. What obstacles arise for a refugee in a new land? #9. How does education serve as a tool for recovery? #10. What is the significance of storytelling in healing? #11. How do relationships influence personal growth and recovery? #12. What impacts did the Rwandan genocide have on individuals? #13. Can one person make a difference in the world? #14. How does resilience manifest in Deogratias’ journey? #15. What cultural insights does Deogratias share about Rwanda? #16. How are faith and spirituality portrayed in the narrative? #17. What does it mean to rebuild a life from scratch? #18. How are historical events depicted in personal stories? #19. What role does empathy play in understanding suffering? #20. How can we learn from others’ survival stories?
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