Quotes and Excerpts
"With its themes of spirituality, restoration of faith and the discovery
that the hard and harsh things in life do happen for a reason, it [Dawson's
Gift] is strongly recommended reading to those of all denominations and
backgrounds."
-- Midwest Book Review
"... the story is so emotionally gripping and the writing so clear."
-- Peggy Eastman, Share
Editor, Catholic Daughters of the Americas
"Dawson’s Gift--An inspiring, extraordinary story of
love and return to faith. Andrea Bell's story is a testimony to the
unyielding love of a mother for her child. It is also a confirmation of
God's continuous presence in the author's life, although she had lost
contact with God somewhere along life's journey. Bell's journal, from the
moment she returned to prayer to the extraordinary, spiritual events that
followed, leaves little doubt that God masterly synchronized what appeared
to be the impossible.
-- Evelyn Zappia,
Catholic San Francisco, The Weekly Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San
Francisco
Full Reviews
Dawson’s Gift by Andrea Bell is a superbly crafted story of
synchronicity, wonder and faith. Dawson Bell is a 27-year-old man struggling
to stay alive until he can receive a heart transplant, while his mother,
Andrea, prays for him. It is her inspirational stories which move another to
name his soon-to-be born son after hers. Dawson’s Gift is an emotional and
thoughtful saga; an unfolding tapestry of amazing connections. With its
themes of spirituality, restoration of faith and the discovery that the hard
and harsh things in life do happen for a reason, it is strongly recommended
reading to those of all denominations and backgrounds.
-- Midwest Book Review
When a loved one is critically ill, the crisis tends
to shut out all other concerns. If the loved one is a child--of whatever
age--the illness can break a mother's heart, especially if she feels
powerless to help. In this intense and riveting book, author Andrea Bell
tells the story of her 27-year-old son Dawson, who desperately needed a
heart transplant to continue to live.
The book would have been a page-turner if it simply focused on Dawson’s
medical problems and the dramatic incidents of his life in intensive care.
It might have been a sort of "General Hospital" memoir. But this is more
than Dawson's story; it is also the story of Ms. Bell who regained her
Catholic faith after years of absence. Thus part of what makes the book so
compelling--and different from other stories about serious illness--is that
the author weaves her own spiritual search in with the wrenching
step-by-step journey of her son’s medical odyssey.
Especially poignant is Andrea Bell's decision not only to return to
church but also to go to confession after not having said confession for
more than 25 years. She relates that in the cubicle "I was so nervous I
thought I might panic and leave." But she knelt down and told the priest in
a hushed voice about Dawson's critical illness, and said an Act of
Contrition. The priest asked her son's name, assured her he would pray for
Dawson, and said, "God bless you. Go in peace." After saying confession, the
author writes, "I did feel a sense of peace that I had not felt in a very
long time."
This 574-page book could have seemed like a tome, but it goes very
quickly because the story is so emotionally gripping and the writing so
clear. The book is divided into four parts, each introduced by a short
scriptural passage. No doubt there will be different interpretations of just
what Dawson's gift was; certainly Dawson inspired the author to be able to
write this book to tell his story to help others. But it also seems clear
that God used this courageous young man to give an even greater gift to his
mother: it was Dawson who helped restore Andrea Bell's faith.
-- Peggy Eastman,
Share Editor, Catholic Daughters of the Americas
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