Barbara P. (gotchagal) -
Helpful Score: 2
"Vicki Forman gave birth to Evan & Ellie, each weighing just a pound at birth, at twenty-three weeks' gestation. During delivery she begged the doctors to "let her babies go" - she knew that at twenty-three weeks they could very well die, and if they survived, they would face a high risk of permanent disabilities. However, California law demanded resucitation. Her daughter died just four days later; her son survived and was indeed multiply disabled: blind, nonverbal, and dependent on a feeding tube.
"This Lovely Life" tells with brilliant intensity of what became of the Forman family after the birth of their twins - the harrowing medical interventions and ethical considerations involving the sanctity of life and death. Forman's intelligent voice gives a sensitive. nuanced rendering of her guilt, her anger, and her eventual acceptance in this portrait of a mother's fierce love for her children."
"A beautiful story of loss and love, and ultimately of understanding, one that's left me shaken, haunted and deeply moved long after I finished reading."
Having lost babies in pregnancy several times, and in fact, twin boys at one time, I can strongly relate to Vicki's mixed feelings, although thank God I never had to deal with watching a child take it's last breath or caring for a profoundly disabled child on a daily basis. This book left me with a lot of questions about the medical profession too. Which is the right thing to do? Read this beautiful story and see how you feel. You may cry, but you'll also think and may be surprised by the thoughts you have.
"This Lovely Life" tells with brilliant intensity of what became of the Forman family after the birth of their twins - the harrowing medical interventions and ethical considerations involving the sanctity of life and death. Forman's intelligent voice gives a sensitive. nuanced rendering of her guilt, her anger, and her eventual acceptance in this portrait of a mother's fierce love for her children."
"A beautiful story of loss and love, and ultimately of understanding, one that's left me shaken, haunted and deeply moved long after I finished reading."
Having lost babies in pregnancy several times, and in fact, twin boys at one time, I can strongly relate to Vicki's mixed feelings, although thank God I never had to deal with watching a child take it's last breath or caring for a profoundly disabled child on a daily basis. This book left me with a lot of questions about the medical profession too. Which is the right thing to do? Read this beautiful story and see how you feel. You may cry, but you'll also think and may be surprised by the thoughts you have.
