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Title: Showing Heart: The True Story of How One Boy Defied the Odds
Author: Leighann Marquiss
Basic Overview:
Showing Heart is the emotional retelling of a family’s journey through adversity. Leighann and Henry Marquiss were thrilled to find out they were expecting baby number 3. However, an early routine appointment doctor’s showed their baby had severe and life threatening complications. The family was full of grief and heartache as they learned of their son’s condition and his chances of survival. At several points they were advised by doctors to end the pregnancy.
With this news they gathered as a couple and with their two young daughters and knew they had to fight for their son. Throughout the book she documents the hundreds of doctor’s appointments and tests she underwent. She talks about her relationship with her husband and how this trial affected them, including strengthening them as a couple. She talks about her two young daughters and how this trial affected them, especially when she had to be away from them for long periods of time.
Overall she talks about her faith in God and His plan for her son and their family. It was through their belief and faith that they were able to bond and unite as a family. Leighann journaled and blogged throughout the experience and used those entries and memories to put together this memoir of adversity, faith, and miracles.
Parts I Liked Best:
This book reads very much like journal entries with extreme attention to detail. It is also very emotional and at times could be hard to read as I imagined what this family had been through. It really was like watching an in-depth news piece on their family from the first doctor’s visit all the way to today. I appreciated how detailed the accounts were recorded as well as Leighann’s own thoughts and feelings.
One of my favorite stories shared was that of the girls first visit to meet their new baby brother. When they arrived at the hospital nurses told Leighann that Ryan, their son, had been irritable all morning and she was nervous about the girls visiting. Leighann wrote, “I watch his numbers as the girls play around him. His blood pressure decreases fifteen points and stays there our entire visit. It seems his sisters are just the medicine he needs.” (pg. 66)
I loved the things they did to stay positive. One example was Beads of Courage, “a program using art therapy to help kids visualize the invasive procedures that happen to them throughout their illness; a visual reminder of how brave they are and how much they’ve had to endure.” (pg. 83) Leighann talks about the beads and how his best two are from the day his sisters came to visit and the day he was born.
How this book made an impact in my life, especially as a mother:
This book is full of so many great messages for mothers. Even though the writing could be improved, I think mothers will be able to draw great inspiration from it because it is such a remarkable story. It reminded me that through trials and hardship a family can grow and bond together. She wrote, “For all of the hardship his little heart has given us, he has also brought us much joy, and such dependence on God.” (pg. 213)
It also reminded me to be more aware of those other mothers around me who may be struggling with a trial in their life and offer my love and support to them. Leighann talks about the help her sister offered and said “As I watch her take charge I almost feel offended and territorial. I’m used to being the one with everything under control…I’m not sure I like this new role. It leaves me feeling defensive…forcing me to admit I can’t handle everything on my own.” (pg. 109) As mothers we have had and/or will have moments like this where we’ve needed help. To me this is one of the beauties of the “power of moms”, lifting each other up when we need it most.
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