Hannah's Gift: Lessons from a Life Fully Lived

Description

This title offers transformative lessons in life learnt through a three-year-old girl's battle with cancer. From Hannah's story emerge five profound lessons - of truth, joy, faith, compassion and wonder - that have the power to change our lives. During the last year of her short life, Hannah was fearless in the way she faced death - and irrepressibly joyful in the way she approached living. The little girl who wore her favourite red shoes into the operating theatre changed the life of everyone who came in contact with her. Now, in a book that preserves Hannah's indomitable spirit, Maria Housden offers the gift of her daughter's last year to all of us.

Maria Housden is a lecturer, author and passionate advocate for quality of life, particularly for those with terminal illness. She has led bereavement support groups and speaks throughout the US to groups as diverse as church and civic organisations, high school students and medical professionals. For 4 years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Kimberly Fund, a nonprofit organization that raises money for families of children facing life-threatening illnesses. As part of her commitment to helping others understand the gift of life, she has led groups of women on contemplative, silent journeys through Death Valley. Mother of three children in addition to Hannah, she lives with her husband, Roger, in a log cabin in Woodstock, New York. Maria's website, www.hannahsgift.com, serves as a community of support and remembrance for those who have loved and lost a child, and also provides more information about Maria's work and how to reach her.

'a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale' People Magazine 'I couldn't read more than a few pages of this for my tears obscuring the print- it is the story of a three-year-old child's battle with cancer. Uplifting I understand, but too heartbreaking for me. However, I've no doubt it will sell.' Sarah Broadhurst, The Bookseller, Paperback supplement