Outskirts Press, INC.

One woman’s journey to find her family, and ultimately herself.

Ruth A. Haugh-Smith was just 11 years old when her mother pulled her aside and revealed the truth about her father. But it would take fifty years for that long-forgotten memory to resurface, sparking a quest to discover just what happened between her mother and the physician she knew only as Doctor Huff. My Father’s Hands: A Secret Daughter’s Story of Courage, Forgiveness, Discovery and Reconciliation details Smith’s incredible journey as she sets off in search of the mysterious man and the reason behind her mother’s actions so long ago. What she finds turns the fragmented, half-remembered shards of memory into a full-color panorama of a time, place, and love that would forever change her life, as well as the lives of those around her. Vividly drawn and richly detailed, this remarkable memoir provides unique insight into the complicated relationships that existed between men and women in Oklahoma, Missiouri, and Kansas during the early years of the American civil rights movement. It is about the things a mother does to give her children a better life. It is about the love between a father and daughter—even against all odds. Mostly, it is about forging the courage necessary to discover the truth that lies within ourselves.

Mother turned her eyes away from mine, and after a faint sigh, she lowered her head and eyes and replied, "Yes, your father is Dr. Haugh, the doctor who delivered you." She continued on, saying, "I am so sorry I didn't talk to you about it before now."