Review of My Brave Face
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Martha Wambura
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Review of My Brave Face
[Following is a volunteer review of "My Brave Face" by Heather Simpson.]
The book My Brave Face by Heather Simpson is a story of how much the unconditional love of parents can conquer. The story began in Fremantle in 1940, when Heather was born with a disease known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta. As a consequence of faulty bone formation, this disorder causes the bones to break at the slightest trauma. Heather's life taught her to be tough at an early age. Her bone disease diagnosis, though mild, forced her to endure a life of constant pain from frequent bone fractures. This makes her spend a significant amount of her early life in hospitals. She also lost her father at the tender age of eight. This, plus the constant need for medical care, makes her family's life so hard. They have to move out of their house and live in the back of their shoe repair shop because of financial constraints. These hardships don't deter Heather. She fights hard to get an education that will at least enable her to earn a living and support her family.
Along the way, Heather finds her soulmate, Raymond Simpson. They fall in love and decide to get married. It doesn't take long for Heather to give birth to a baby boy by the name of Stephen Simpson. As fate would have it, Stephen was born with severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Life would then take a turn. As the boy grew, he experienced severe bone fractures that forced him to live in excruciating pain. At the slightest opportunity, Heather and Ray move to the United States of America in search of greener pastures and better healthcare for Stephen. As time progresses, Stephen's bone disease limits his mobility, which means he needs specialised care for his delicate body. They find a nursing home in Australia that is ideal because of its closeness to home and relatives. This leads to an eventual relocation to Australia. Despite Stevens' health challenges, his impeccable character draws people to him and makes his physical disability unseen. His will to fight is unmatched. It is these beautiful characteristics and their unconditional love for him that keep his parents going through this difficult time.
I must commend Heather for the amazing courage she had to write this book. I can only imagine how much it took for her to vividly document their lives as parents of a physically challenged child. The way she wrote it made me easily put myself in her shoes and share in her struggles and pain. Her writing this book was not only for herself, but also for those living with a disability and their caregivers. I can now see into their lives and the strength it takes to just live through one day.
It is also clear that this mother has shown us what unconditional love is all about: a love that knows no bounds for the ones we love. The book clearly illustrates how much she and her husband, Ray, have fought to give Stephen the proper care he deserves. Also shown is the sacrifice a parent makes for their own child's well-being.
From relatable life experiences to the lessons learned and the happy and sad times shared, this book has so much to offer. I can only mention a few things in this review. Besides its perfect editing, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars
This book is an excellent fit for those who are living with a chronic illness, living with a disability, or their loved ones, especially their parents. There is so much stigma associated with disabilities, which can make it challenging to live a normal life. What Heather Simpson has shared here will be of strength and encouragement to these groups of people. It will also benefit caregivers. We see parents who continuously sacrificed for their son and found fulfilment in his comfort. They also did a bit of travelling, which is self-care that each caregiver should adopt for their own wellbeing.
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My Brave Face
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The book My Brave Face by Heather Simpson is a story of how much the unconditional love of parents can conquer. The story began in Fremantle in 1940, when Heather was born with a disease known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta. As a consequence of faulty bone formation, this disorder causes the bones to break at the slightest trauma. Heather's life taught her to be tough at an early age. Her bone disease diagnosis, though mild, forced her to endure a life of constant pain from frequent bone fractures. This makes her spend a significant amount of her early life in hospitals. She also lost her father at the tender age of eight. This, plus the constant need for medical care, makes her family's life so hard. They have to move out of their house and live in the back of their shoe repair shop because of financial constraints. These hardships don't deter Heather. She fights hard to get an education that will at least enable her to earn a living and support her family.
Along the way, Heather finds her soulmate, Raymond Simpson. They fall in love and decide to get married. It doesn't take long for Heather to give birth to a baby boy by the name of Stephen Simpson. As fate would have it, Stephen was born with severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Life would then take a turn. As the boy grew, he experienced severe bone fractures that forced him to live in excruciating pain. At the slightest opportunity, Heather and Ray move to the United States of America in search of greener pastures and better healthcare for Stephen. As time progresses, Stephen's bone disease limits his mobility, which means he needs specialised care for his delicate body. They find a nursing home in Australia that is ideal because of its closeness to home and relatives. This leads to an eventual relocation to Australia. Despite Stevens' health challenges, his impeccable character draws people to him and makes his physical disability unseen. His will to fight is unmatched. It is these beautiful characteristics and their unconditional love for him that keep his parents going through this difficult time.
I must commend Heather for the amazing courage she had to write this book. I can only imagine how much it took for her to vividly document their lives as parents of a physically challenged child. The way she wrote it made me easily put myself in her shoes and share in her struggles and pain. Her writing this book was not only for herself, but also for those living with a disability and their caregivers. I can now see into their lives and the strength it takes to just live through one day.
It is also clear that this mother has shown us what unconditional love is all about: a love that knows no bounds for the ones we love. The book clearly illustrates how much she and her husband, Ray, have fought to give Stephen the proper care he deserves. Also shown is the sacrifice a parent makes for their own child's well-being.
From relatable life experiences to the lessons learned and the happy and sad times shared, this book has so much to offer. I can only mention a few things in this review. Besides its perfect editing, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars
This book is an excellent fit for those who are living with a chronic illness, living with a disability, or their loved ones, especially their parents. There is so much stigma associated with disabilities, which can make it challenging to live a normal life. What Heather Simpson has shared here will be of strength and encouragement to these groups of people. It will also benefit caregivers. We see parents who continuously sacrificed for their son and found fulfilment in his comfort. They also did a bit of travelling, which is self-care that each caregiver should adopt for their own wellbeing.
******
My Brave Face
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: “Wisdom Of The Men” by Clint Arthur
