AT ONLY A YEAR OLD, NICK MAY RECEIVED ONE OF THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL PEDIATRIC HEART TRANSPLANTS. THIS IS HIS STORY TOLD BY HIS MOTHER.
Most people associate heart problems with old age. However, many American children suffer serious heart issues that once were insurmountable. In the past, infants with heart defects likeNick’s invariably died at a very young age but with surgical and medical advances, this gloomysituation has changed, providing not only a positive quality of life but a substantial life span.
Nick’s life has been similar to taking a roller coaster ride without a seat belt or a safety bar. No one, not even Nick’s doctors or his family, knew what was around the next turn. His story’s often more dramatic than fiction, as devoted doctors and nurses worked together with his family not just to save Nick’s life, but to provide him with a happy life.
He grew up alongside his peers, graduated from college, married and became a father. Through each of those milestones has come great experiences, a deeper understanding of the human spirt and God’s love, the value of hope, love, and steadfast support from friends, relatives, nurses, staff, and doctors – and his home town.
Through it all, Nick has lived and loved. Not just survived, but thrived and beaten the odds. Thirty years and counting…
  Susan Carlisle’s love affair with books began when she made a bad grade in math in the sixth grade. Not allowed to watch TV until she brought the grade up, Susan filled her time with books. She turned her love of reading into a love of writing. Susan has released through HarperCollins’s Harlequin medical imprint over thirty contemporary romances. Her Modern Masters of Their Castles trilogy is under her own imprint. Her steamy stories have strong heroes with the vibrant women whochallenge them. |
Her traditionally published nonfiction book Nick’s New Heart 30 Years and Counting came out on March 2021, under Susan May. It is about her son’s heart transplant experience. The second, a historical biography A WWII Flight Surgeon’s Story was released by Pelican Publishing under the author name S. Carlisle May.
You find out more about her at:
www.WWIIArmyAirForceMedicine.com
First, I want to thank Susan May for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
Susan May opens up her own heart to share beautifully written Nick’s New Heart! Susan’s Memoir is very powerful and will show you how precious life can be! She shows you not just tells you how brave this little boy was that turned into who he is today. This book will educate you, make you smile from ear to ear, and even make you tear up. Yes, you will want your tissues handy.
Instantly I fell head over heels in love with this cover graphic. It was just so beautiful and so spot on to the subject matter. I loved how the adult hand was handing a huge heart to a small little baby's hand reaching for it. The wording was perfectly placed.
Susan wants to dedicate this book to the memory of her late father, Glenn Myhr Plummer. She would also like to honor Nick’s Donor Family.
Nick’s New Heart educates on many medical procedures, terminology, discusses the importance of organ donation, etc. For those who love all things medical I found this information very fascinating. Although, I hated that Nick had to go through all of this at such a young age.
I have a passion for reading medical memoirs and medical facts. However, I care about the personal experience or the human aspect the patient is going through. I have compassion, empathy and fascination about it. So, I could understand when Susan mentioned there was nothing on the patient side of it, just the medical. I am so thankful she took it upon herself to write this book. I hope that it could help raise awareness or help others that are going through this.
I was very appreciative that Susan added pictures of Nick and family members in the book. It made the story that much more personal and dear to her heart. It made me smile seeing pictures of Nick growing up.
Speaking of growing up Susan gives us an update on what life is like for him today even before she tells us his story! Yes, even before reading his story and hearing the update I was in happy tears!
Words can’t express how devastated I was when I read about Nick’s news! I just kept thinking he is way too young for this to be happening to him! I wanted to reach into the book and give Susan a hug and later his siblings!
My heart did melt though when Mickey Mouse did cradle Nick in his arms! I hope they got a picture of that special moment.
Mr. Charles Sims, an adult transplant recipient read a very powerful passage about attitude that I totally agreed with. Attitude is the single thing that keeps me going or cripples my progress.
What an incredible opportunity Nick and his brother Zach had to go to The White House Easter Egg Roll with First Lady! That must have been so fun for those two!
Susan is an incredibly detailed writer. Obviously this is a topic that is close to her heart and you can tell by how passionately she writes. She is a strong woman who never gave up in doing what was best for Nick! He is so blessed to have her as her Mom.
In the appendix in the back of the book there is a great list Susan provides that will benefit parents with chronically-ill children or parents who are living with a transparent child.
Susan also provides a list of great resources and books as well that is very helpful.
1 comments:
I haven't read many memoirs, but this sounds like a lovely book.
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