Me and Thad

Thad Aaron Sutton was born on April 29, 1976 with half of his brain outside of his underdeveloped skull. He was the seventh son in a vibrant and active Mormon, military family, but he was not expected to live through the night. Happily, he survived, and the Sutton family welcomed him into their home for however long his life might be. 


Me and Thad is a joyful, dual, coming-of-age memoir, written by his brother, Tim, who was 9 years old when Thad was born. It is about family, tireless parents, and the strength of community. It describes the beauty and challenges of caring for a special needs child, and how the presence of Thad in Tim’s life helped him on his own journey toward self-discovery and acceptance.


Me and Thad is drawn from the author’s memory, letters and journal entries from his family, photographs, and other remembrances. It is a courageous book, asking questions about how we respond to the people around us, and how we embrace (or fail to embrace) those who are different. As the author, who is gay, wrestles with his own inner conflicts, he asks himself, what is normal, where do I fit in, and what does acceptance really mean?