Losing Malcolm: A Mother's Journey Through Grief
Three days after the birth of Henderson's son Malcolm who was initially pronounced "perfect" the boy was diagnosed with a serious heart murmur. In precise and intimate prose, Henderson describes every parent's nightmare: she and her husband, Bill, seesawed between hope and fear about their son's condition. More optimistic than his wife, Bill tried to reassure her that everything would be all right once surgery was performed on Malcolm. The infant's heart was successfully repaired and the two parents were celebrating a "miracle" when their baby's condition again deteriorated. Malcolm died during a second emergency surgery. Based on a journal she kept, the author, a freelance journalist, details the death of her newborn son and the ensuing period of grieving in this exceptionally moving, sometimes painful memoir. Henderson skillfully conveys the atmosphere of the hospital where other parents of critically ill infants waited for news and supported one another. For many months after Malcolm's death, Henderson was unable to resume any semblance of normal life, although Bill managed to return to work. She finally saw a therapist who helped her accept her son's death and put her in touch with two other women who had suffered the loss of their infants. Today, Henderson is the mother of two daughters. Her honest and harrowing account about her son's untimely death will resonate with anyone who has endured such bereavement.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.