About ‘My Rachel’ by S.J. Gibbs and J.M. McKenzie::
Genre: nonfiction; autobiography of persons with disabled children
This book is based on real life events and is a raw and authentic account of a true fight for life and justice.
A memoir of a mother’s love for her daughter, Rachel, who is diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy, a condition which makes her incapable of voluntary movement or speech. It is an incredible story, which takes the reader from the beginning of Rachel’s life, to the present day, spanning a period of more than thirty years.
It is an open and honest journey of a special bond. A tale of anger, confusion, disability and change, but also one of courage, experiences, inspiration and resilience.
It tells of hopes and fears, and the true meaning of what it’s like to be the mother of a daughter with severe cerebral palsy. It portrays Rachel’s passion for life and her mischievous sense of fun.
Rachel’s story is one that deserves to be told.
~~SLIGHT SPOILERS~~
I had to keep taking breaks to keep from crying… ‘My Rachel’ tells the true story of the perseverance of both a child born with cerebral palsy and her mother. While I am not a parent myself, the authors have written this book in a way that even readers such as I can feel what Rachel’s mother felt as she fought through one of the worst set of circumstances life can throw at a mom. No lie: I kept tearing up whilst reading. It’s a heartbreaking yet somehow still inspiring tale.
A young couple pregnant with their first baby couldn’t be more excited…until the day of birth draws near, bringing unexpected concerns. Concerns which are flippantly dismissed by midwives and doctors. The unhealthy baby is immediately separated from her mother in the start of what would turn out to be an outrageous string of neglect from uncompassionate and even ignorant medical professionals who would go so far as to cover up their malpractice.
During the first long nights that turn into weeks, then months, Rachel’s mother struggles through the indefinite period of the unknown as she attempts to find answers about why her beautiful baby girl is acting so differently than her friends’ babies. A period where there is absolutely nothing she can do, where she feels hopeless and useless for the first time in her life. When finally Rachel is diagnosed, her mother sets her sights into at last being able to do something. She begins by learning everything she can about the disability and goes full force into momma bear mode where every waking and slumbering thought is centered on caring for her daughter, doing everything that may even only have a slight possibility of helping.
As these tumultuous months turn into years, the family begins encountering new stress. A troubled marriage, blame pointed onto the mother, friends beginning to stay their distance from the disabled child, and so many other things I will not mention for fear of ruining the experience of this story for others.
The authors did not shy away from the darker sides of the truth either, which is something I much appreciate. While, like Rachel, her mother was an amazing fighter who refused to give up, her depression, anxiety, and fears during these struggles are voiced to the reader as well. Jealousy that other parents had healthy children, resentment that they had the experience she had been planning for since her young years all throughout her pregnancy, anger that life had been so unfair to her, her husband, and her baby.
Throughout wanting a healthy child and mourning the loss of that potential child, her love for Rachel never wavered, neither did her dedication to her daughter’s stringent care needs. I feel that is so important. It’s perfectly normal and healthy to have all these emotions, and to express them. It doesn’t negate the love that is there.
While my illnesses weren’t developmental or intellectual, I was a very sick child. I had so many disorders and diseases, many of which still affect me to this day. My own relationship with my mother is incredibly strained for various reasons, but reading about Rachel and her mother has definitely given me a deeper insight into what my own mom was going through with me. Thank you so much for sharing your stories!
Get the ebook on Amazon (FREE on Kindle Unlimited)!
Get the audiobook on Amazon/Audible!
You can find J.M. McKenzie on:
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Amazon
Goodreads
((Review submitted to Amazon and Goodreads))
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~Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden
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