Dr. Rachel Clarke's "A Story of a Heart" is a profoundly moving and emotionally charged narrative that tells the story of two families bound together by both tragedy and hope. At its core, the book explores the transformative power of organ donation through the lives of nine-year-olds Keira Ball and Max Johnson. Clarke’s writing is both compassionate and insightful, weaving together the deeply personal stories of the Ball and Johnson families with medical history. Clarke beautifully captures the rawness of grief and the complexity of joy in the wake of such a bittersweet miracle. Overall, Clarke’s book is a heartfelt and inspiring tribute to the power of compassion in the face of unimaginable loss. It’s a story that will resonate with readers, encouraging reflection on the value of life, love, and the enduring impact of selfless acts. As a medical student, this book has helped me understand the challenges and the emotions that my future patients may encounter and how I can be a physician that can help my future patients and their families. This book is a must-read for those interested in medical history or simply seeking an uplifting true story about the human spirit.

Thank you to the Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC inexchange for an honest review.


This book was well written, heart wrenching and fascinating. If books written by doctors or books about the medical field are interesting to you, you'll enjoy this.

I requested this book because I was intrigued by the subject matter. A family donating their daughter's heart to save the life of a young boy whose own heart is failing. The stories about the families were interesting and heart rending. The author also inserts histories of heart transplants, and the stories of the doctors who pioneered them. A great read! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was extremely well written, and it peaked my interest just from the synopsis. There was lots of medical terms in this book, and a lot of details on transplant, donors, transplant, recipients, and the process of giving the gift of life through an organ transplant. Reed was also an organ donor, this book showed me firsthand on how important it is to be an organ donor because someone’s life will be changed forever when I pass. This book made me cry, and it also made me smile as I reflected on the gift of life.

Thanks Netgalley and Scribner for this arc

Wow. I’ve read books written by transplant surgeons about the process in general but this book details one specific transplantation that was possible due to an enormous number of talented health care practitioners, the horrific accident that cost Kiera Ball’s life, and her family’s act of selfless generosity. On a beautiful summer day, one family’s loss became another family’s salvation. Another family finally gets The Call.

Staff at many hospitals, along with the transplant specialists, go above and beyond to support their patients and the patients’ families. The delicate but ruthless process of offering Kiera’s organs and then weaving together the various strands of effort that must take place in timed coordination begins.

Usually I can manage a certain reading speed but after a few hours of starting this book, I realized I was behind. Then it hit me that I was having to stop and keep wiping away an almost constant trickle of tears. Reading this one hurt at times. But it also lifted me up to see the dedicated staff at many health care facilities all working together to ensure that these families and this gift were taken care of. A

Title: Story of the Heart
By: Dr. Rachel Clarke

Genre:
Biographies & Memoirs | Health, Mind & Body | Nonfiction (Adult)

Red Flags:
Death, Grief, Loss, Organ Donation

Summary:

Meet Max Johnson, aka, the walking medical miracle.

This is his beautifully written story of his life experience awaiting the perfect heart. Max’s heart was infected which then quickly put his life on the line, his family is anxiously awaiting a heart, but his parents know that means the loss of another child, and another grieving family in order to save Max. The Ball family is involved in a sudden car accident, and Kiera Ball’s life is in jeopardy. In a short matter of time, Keira’s sister asks the nurse about organ donations and after pondering, their father agrees it is what Keira would want… What follows next is the poignant actions of an extraordinary family as they prepare for what some would consider the worst and hardest days of their lives. However, the actions of the Ball family aren’t as such, rather The Ball’s are truly remarkable!

Review:

Unforgettably, Awe Inspiring!

Every once in a while, I read a non-fiction book that will forever change me.
It’s been a few years, but “Story of the Heart” is definitely one of them!

“Story of the Heart” is an expertly intricate, emotionally heavy, non-fiction story which masterfully weaves together the lives of medical professionals, the history of medical procedures, and most importantly the emotional toll played on both sides of organ donors and receivers families. This book is emotionally heavy, the content which declares the immense pain, loss, and grief on all parties involved in organ transplants and is an unforgettable masterpiece! Thank you Dr. Rachel Clarke for showcasing your talent in medicine and writing to open the world's eyes to organ donations. Personally, I have immediate family who have benefited from both giving and receiving organs, and our lives have been changed by the generosity of others. I highly recommend this read! (Have your tissues on hand.)

Thank you Dr. Rachel Clarke, Scribner, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#storyoftheheart
#Drrachelclarke
#scribner
#netgalley
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#netgalleyreviews

STORY OF A HEART: TWO FAMILIES, ONE HEART, AND THE MEDICAL MIRACLE THAT SAVED A
CHILD'S LIFE
BY: DR. RACHEL CLARKE

I don't know where to begin to express how tender, and moving this outstanding non-fiction book called, "STORY OF A HEART," turned out to be. All I can say is I was surprised at how when I chose to read it would turn out to be the best non-fiction book that I have ever read in my life. How I was not prepared to be totally swept away by how compelling, and powerfully, gripping this true story would affect
me in a way that culminates in my good fortune in such a glorious discovery. Everything about this story is a marvel that I came away with feeling like this is the one in a million time I would ask you to consider giving this book a chance if you had to choose one non-fiction book to read. The reason I highly recommend it to everyone is because it sings with inspiration to be an uplifting example in how one family in unimaginable grief act of kindness contributed in their selfless humanity were triumphant in healing and were blessed with a gift that was as glorious a miracle which I hope you have the pleasure to learn if you decide to read this. I would love to hear from anybody who decides to take a leap of faith to try it. The title might make your mind up that you might feel like I did before I read it. I wanted to read it, but wasn't in a hurry, and with everybody having too many other books that they are wanting to get to read, it's only natural to be skeptical.
My last bit of advice is that I was not in any hurry to get to this, but from the first page I was hooked. There is so much anecdotal fascinating things having to do with the human body, areas of medicine, how it's evolved, how certain mechanisms such as the ventilators were originated, what you do in an accident that could mean saving a life, your child's life, makes all the difference before an ambulance arrive, told in easy to grasp layperson language. Whatever your thoughts are, whether you found it to be a phenomenal reading experience of comfort or not. I really hope you will tell me. No pressure.

You know that phrase that states if you give something for the pure sake of giving, without any expectations from another to reciprocate? The inner joy of warmth that comes within. I do that for the people who I care about, which I learned from parents and grandparents. That is what the main thesis of this book reminded me of. That could be what resonated with me about, "A STORY OF A HEART." It's written by a remarkable Physician, named Dr. Rachel Clarke who specializes in palliative care, who managed to write this in such a way that she has the kindest, gentleness voice that you imagine her telling you the story that is as calming as it is comforting. Along with her explaining things for a person with a non scientific background, which I am familiar with my undergraduate degree courses in Biochemistry, medicine has advanced so much since then I was interested in reading this partly to do with a false heart scare, which due to a physical with my Primary Care Doctor, who because he retired had me see a Physician's Assistant, and I have had my share of pneumonia and I was feeling a shortness of breath. I've always had a heart murmur, which I was told since High School, and doctors it is nothing to worry about. This very nice P.A. after listening to my heart, asked me if it was okay if I rescheduled my physical, and they ran an EKG. Due to the concerns I was sent to the hospital lab to get a blood test, which I had no idea why. I had received a phone call at 8:00 AM, the next morning from an older nurse who scared me by telling me to go straight to the hospital Emergency department ASAP or I would have a Cardiac Arrest. My Potassium levels were dangerously low from the blood test. I was a nervous wreck trying to get dressed and drive there since I was the only one home. It turned out that they took more blood work and hooked me up to an EKG and when the Doctor came to tell me everything was normal. Nervous Wreck for nothing.

I don't know anybody who has had a transplant and I hope I never do. This book in no way tries to persuade you to be an organ donor, for whatever reasons everyone is entitled to their personal opinion. This book I was happy doesn't come off preachy, or talk down to you, but I gained a better understanding of the process from reading. I was slightly disappointed in the beginning to learn that this is about the medical system that takes place in the United Kingdom, and I live in the United States, but I quickly learned that the story is about in 2017, this caught this compassionate and empathetic Dr. Rachel Clarke's attention in the Mirror. In the Prologue she states that this is a tale about a nine year old boy, a nine year old girl, and the heart they share. It's a tale that no one was meant to tell. In a specialty that is filled with deep emotion such as transplant surgery, the families of organ donors rarely know who receives the knowledge of who the recipients are that their organs get transplanted into. For obvious reasons , transplant services take strong measures and go to extreme lengths to make certain that donor and recipient families are kept as remotely distanced since the process is stressful enough to not to add emotional entanglements that could accumulate more distress upon already easily susceptible people. In rarely exceptional events, that are usually precipitated through the media, donor and recipient families do discover each other's identities.

In June 2017, In England this author first noticed in the 'Mirror,' which is a newspaper that is known for advocating a wide variety social issues, featured a front page headline that stated, "Change the Law for Max," that made a strong request to the U.K. Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, to introduce new legislation regarding the scarcity of organs available for transplant. At the time, if a person would have to "opt in," by signing up to the National Organ Donor Register, if they wished to donate their organs after death. Unlike many other Countries, the adults would have presumed to have given their consent to donate their organs unless they "opted out."

Max Johnson, was an active nine year old boy who until a mysterious illness caused, his heart to fail until he was so weak he was forced to spend nine months in bed at the hospital. While hospitalized Max's parents learned that in "Britain, and America up to one in five children might die while waiting on the transplant list." "They were equally aware that the only thing that could give Max what he needed to live was the death, appallingly, of someone else's child."

Keira Ball, who suffered a catastrophic brain injury due to a traffic collision on a dangerous road one Summer day who I think was close to the same age as Max. Her family made the altruistic decision to donate her organs. They decided as a family that they were absolutely certain that Keira would have wanted it that way.

There are definite ways of tests that are involved to determine that Keira had not ceased functioning. I didn't know that until reading this that medical technology has advanced to the point where a determination can be made that leaves no room for doubt that the brain will not function. I remember that the range is after advanced testing that the range being between three and fifteen and Keira's score was a three with three being as there wasn't any hope which I was so sad for her family. I felt that the medical team were, caring and let her family take as much time as they needed. There is so much more that I feel that it truly turns out that both families experience true miracles. This is dedicated to Keira.

Publication Date: 9/10/2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Dr. Rachael Clarke, and Scribner for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#StoryofaHeart DrRachaelClarke #Scibner #NetGalley
STORY OF A HEART: TWO FAMILIES, ONE HEART, AND THE MEDICAL MIRACLE THAT SAVED A
CHILD'S LIFE
BY: DR. RACHEL CLARKE

I don't know where to begin to express how tender, and moving this outstanding non-fiction book called, "STORY OF A HEART," turned out to be. All I can say is I was surprised at how when I chose to read it would turn out to be the best non-fiction book that I have ever read in my life. How I was not prepared to be totally swept away by how compelling, and powerfully, gripping this true story would affect
me in a way that culminates in my good fortune in such a glorious discovery. Everything about this story is a marvel that I came away with feeling like this is the one in a million time I would ask you to consider giving this book a chance if you had to choose one non-fiction book to read. The reason I highly recommend it to everyone is because it sings with inspiration to be an uplifting example in how one family in unimaginable grief act of kindness contributed in their selfless humanity were triumphant in healing and were blessed with a gift that was as glorious a miracle which I hope you have the pleasure to learn if you decide to read this. I would love to hear from anybody who decides to take a leap of faith to try it. The title might make your mind up that you might feel like I did before I read it. I wanted to read it, but wasn't in a hurry, and with everybody having too many other books that they are wanting to get to read, it's only natural to be skeptical.
My last bit of advice is that I was not in any hurry to get to this, but from the first page I was hooked. There is so much anecdotal fascinating things having to do with the human body, areas of medicine, how it's evolved, how certain mechanisms such as the ventilators were originated, what you do in an accident that could mean saving a life, your child's life, makes all the difference before an ambulance arrive, told in easy to grasp layperson language. Whatever your thoughts are, whether you found it to be a phenomenal reading experience of comfort or not. I really hope you will tell me. No pressure.

You know that phrase that states if you give something for the pure sake of giving, without any expectations from another to reciprocate? The inner joy of warmth that comes within. I do that for the people who I care about, which I learned from parents and grandparents. That is what the main thesis of this book reminded me of. That could be what resonated with me about, "A STORY OF A HEART." It's written by a remarkable Physician, named Dr. Rachel Clarke who specializes in palliative care, who managed to write this in such a way that she has the kindest, gentleness voice that you imagine her telling you the story that is as calming as it is comforting. Along with her explaining things for a person with a non scientific background, which I am familiar with my undergraduate degree courses in Biochemistry, medicine has advanced so much since then I was interested in reading this partly to do with a false heart scare, which due to a physical with my Primary Care Doctor, who because he retired had me see a Physician's Assistant, and I have had my share of pneumonia and I was feeling a shortness of breath. I've always had a heart murmur, which I was told since High School, and doctors it is nothing to worry about. This very nice P.A. after listening to my heart, asked me if it was okay if I rescheduled my physical, and they ran an EKG. Due to the concerns I was sent to the hospital lab to get a blood test, which I had no idea why. I had received a phone call at 8:00 AM, the next morning from an older nurse who scared me by telling me to go straight to the hospital Emergency department ASAP or I would have a Cardiac Arrest. My Potassium levels were dangerously low from the blood test. I was a nervous wreck trying to get dressed and drive there since I was the only one home. It turned out that they took more blood work and hooked me up to an EKG and when the Doctor came to tell me everything was normal. Nervous Wreck for nothing.

I don't know anybody who has had a transplant and I hope I never do. This book in no way tries to persuade you to be an organ donor, for whatever reasons everyone is entitled to their personal opinion. This book I was happy doesn't come off preachy, or talk down to you, but I gained a better understanding of the process from reading. I was slightly disappointed in the beginning to learn that this is about the medical system that takes place in the United Kingdom, and I live in the United States, but I quickly learned that the story is about in 2017, this caught this compassionate and empathetic Dr. Rachel Clarke's attention in the Mirror. In the Prologue she states that this is a tale about a nine year old boy, a nine year old girl, and the heart they share. It's a tale that no one was meant to tell. In a specialty that is filled with deep emotion such as transplant surgery, the families of organ donors rarely know who receives the knowledge of who the recipients are that their organs get transplanted into. For obvious reasons , transplant services take strong measures and go to extreme lengths to make certain that donor and recipient families are kept as remotely distanced since the process is stressful enough to not to add emotional entanglements that could accumulate more distress upon already easily susceptible people. In rarely exceptional events, that are usually precipitated through the media, donor and recipient families do discover each other's identities.

In June 2017, In England this author first noticed in the 'Mirror,' which is a newspaper that is known for advocating a wide variety social issues, featured a front page headline that stated, "Change the Law for Max," that made a strong request to the U.K. Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, to introduce new legislation regarding the scarcity of organs available for transplant. At the time, if a person would have to "opt in," by signing up to the National Organ Donor Register, if they wished to donate their organs after death. Unlike many other Countries, the adults would have presumed to have given their consent to donate their organs unless they "opted out."

Max Johnson, was an active nine year old boy who until a mysterious illness caused, his heart to fail until he was so weak he was forced to spend nine months in bed at the hospital. While hospitalized Max's parents learned that in "Britain, and America up to one in five children might die while waiting on the transplant list." "They were equally aware that the only thing that could give Max what he needed to live was the death, appallingly, of someone else's child."

Keira Ball, who suffered a catastrophic brain injury due to a traffic collision on a dangerous road one Summer day who I think was close to the same age as Max. Her family made the altruistic decision to donate her organs. They decided as a family that they were absolutely certain that Keira would have wanted it that way.

There are definite ways of tests that are involved to determine that Keira had not ceased functioning. I didn't know that until reading this that medical technology has advanced to the point where a determination can be made that leaves no room for doubt that the brain will not function. I remember that the range is after advanced testing that the range being between three and fifteen and Keira's score was a three with three being as there wasn't any hope which I was so sad for her family. I felt that the medical team were, caring and let her family take as much time as they needed. There is so much more that I feel that it truly turns out that both families experience true miracles. This is dedicated to Keira.

Publication Date: 9/10/2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Dr. Rachael Clarke, and Scribner for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#StoryofaHeart DrRachaelClarke #Scibner #NetGalley

Wow. Incredibly beautiful and moving. An important story to understand the pain associated with everything that both patient and donor families experience and work through.
A family member of mine received a heart transplant so I have a close appreciation for this book and how important it is to shine light on organ donation and the incredible medical teams who deliver miracles on a regular basis, and the selfless act of donors and their families.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

WOW.

This book was an absolute masterpiece & truly the most beautiful piece of nonfiction I have ever read. Not only was the story it contained beautiful to its core, Clarke’s poignant way of blending emotion, medical knowledge, and fact throughout this story of two families and how their lives were changed forever by transplant was incredibly moving.

When nine-year-old Max becomes critically ill very rapidly, he and his parents are given gut-wrenching news: to survive, he needs a transplant- and the only way he will get receive one is through the death of another child. Months into his worsening illness, a family makes the incredibly generous decision to donate their beautiful daughter Keira’s organs after a horrific accident leaves her braindead. As fate has it, these families are bonded for life through the transplant process. After Max recovers successfully from his surgery, his parents write a heartfelt note of thanks to his donor in one of the biggest newspapers in Britain. Upon seeing it, Keira’s mom reaches out, suspecting that Max is now the carrier of her daughter’s heart and they become connected. Amazingly, these two families who would’ve otherwise likely never met go on to inspire thousands to sign up for Great Britain’s organ donor registry and transform the registration process in their country.

This book was very fascinating to me because of my ICU nurse background. Dr. Clarke beautifully captures the confounding beauty and sorrow of transplant and the duality of emotions that both donor and recipient families must work through during all phases of the process. In addition to sharing the Johnson & Balls’ story, Clarke weaves a descriptive history of transplant medicine and intensive care throughout which taught me so much more about my own field of work than I ever knew. There are multiple perspectives brought in - including first responders, nurses, parents, transplant coordinators - which add to the richness of the story.

The story Dr. Clarke shared in this book made for an incredibly emotional read. I cried many times while reading, even though the outcome was known from the very beginning. I am a huge advocate for organ donation and transplant, and the story I had the privilege of reading here only adds to that. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a story about transplants, generosity and the resiliency of the human spirit. Beautiful work, Dr. Clarke!

Thank you NetGalley, Dr. Rachel Clarke, and Simon & Schuster for the free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A heartfelt and informative history of heart transplants and the true story of two families, two 9 year olds, and one’s heart giving life to the other’s.
Certainly a poignant read. It makes you think about your petty anxieties and embrace your loved ones.
The prose and the pacing 3.5 stars.
Overall, a solid 4 star read and it is important. I highly recommend it thanks to its amazing approach, lessons and facts.

Dr. Rachel Clarke's "The Story of a Heart" is a poignant and informative exploration of the intricate world of heart transplantation. The book weaves together the personal stories of two families, one facing the devastating loss of a child and the other desperately seeking a life-saving heart transplant.

Clarke's writing is both compassionate and informative, providing a deep dive into the medical procedures and ethical considerations surrounding organ donation. The book's most compelling aspect is the way it humanizes the process, highlighting the emotional toll on both the donor and recipient families.

While the narrative is moving, there were moments where I felt the pace slowed down slightly, making it difficult to maintain engagement. Additionally, the book could have benefited from a more in-depth exploration of the psychological impact of heart transplantation on the recipients.

Overall, "The Story of a Heart" is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the medical field or simply seeking a heartwarming tale of human resilience. It is a testament to the power of compassion and the miracle of modern medicine. 3.5/5⭐

A heart wrenching story of two children and a heart.I kept tissues by my side as I read the amazing story of two families and a heart transplant.I learned about organ donation hero drs and nurses .I will be recommending this beautifully written story.#netgalley #scribner

The human heart is an essential organ of the human body. Without it, or some kind of mechanical cardiac assist device, life is not sustainable.

The Story of a Heart: Two Families, One Heart, and the Medical Miracle That Saved a Child’s Life is partially a sad story and partially a story of one child’s perseverance to live. The book chronicles two families: one family who loses a beloved child, and the other who watches their son and sibling slowly die from cardiomyopathy.

Dr. Clarke expertly takes the reader through the history of organ transplantation, even quoting a book that I had previously read and enjoyed called Spare Parts, detailing the triumph of the first heart transplant by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in 1967 of an adult heart. Unfortunately, the patient only lived a few days and subsequent heart transplants were similarly unsuccessful.

It wasn’t until the discovery of cyclosporin, a drug that significantly reduced the risk of organ rejection, plus serotyping, which allows medical professionals to determine the best match for a successful transplant.

The Story of a Heart: Two Families, One Heart, and the Medical Miracle That Saved a Child’s Life shows how when faced with the horrible reality of their beloved sister and seven-year-old daughter would not recover from the severe brain damage she suffered from the automobile accident. The family made an unselfish gift of Keira’s organs to anyone who could use them.

The recipient of the heart was a young boy whose own heart had failed to the point he was on a ventricular assist device—usually meant to be a bridge to a transplantation. Once Keira’s heart was implanted in Max, he suddenly had his whole life ahead of him.

Besides the history of heart transplantation, I was pleased with the emphasis on grieving families to make the ultimate sacrifice and allow parts of their loved one’s body’s to be given to those desperately in need. I have long felt that being an organ donor was something very important to me, so I found that part of the story to be very satisfying.

This book would appeal to those readers who are interested in the history of heart transplantation, as well as those readers who might be interested in the more human aspects of heart transplantation.

5/5 stars

[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion, which I have given here.]

This was an absolutely inspirational and beautiful story! I especially loved all of the history and detail because I work in organ donation. It was a fantastic way to craft the narrative of two kids and one heart. It made my heart so happy and sad all at the same time. Beautiful writing and very inspiring story!

This book was heartbreakingly beautiful. The story of a heart that was transplanted from a young girl who was in a tragic accident into a young boy suffering from a life-limiting illness. Dr. Clarke’s book not only tells this story, but also describes the journey that medicine has taken in order to make heart transplants possible. The language can be a little technical, but I think that anyone interested in health, medicine, organ donation, or ethics would find what they’re looking for with this book!


Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the digital ARC

Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner for this advanced reader's copy. I'm not going to lie. I cried reading this. It is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Transplant specialty is an amazing gift, but there are not many organs that can be given and transplanted without first another person having to die. Especially children. I work with adult transplant, but where I work there is also pediatric transplant services (not heart transplant though) and I can't even imagine this. You want so much for your child to live, but you also don't want another child to have to die for yours to live. This was an amazing story to share of the gift Keira Ball's family was able to give another family when an absolutely horrendous and unthinkable tragedy occurred, and their beautiful daughter, Keira was in a car accident and was brain dead. 9-year-old Max's heart was failing and only a heart transplant would keep him alive. Following the successful heart transplant, now Keira's heart lives on in Max's body and he has grown to become strong. Keira's mother saw his picture in the paper and knew he was recipient of her daughter's heart. The parents have since met up and Keira's parents have heard their daughter's heart beating in Max chest. To know that their daughter's heart lives on, and their gift helped another child thrive in spite of a tragic event has helped them grieve. Transplants are an amazing and ever-growing service.

This is the kind of book I need more of! I loved it! I actually have read another book by Rachel Clarke that I also loved! A great read!

I really looked forward to this read, since working with pediatric transplant patients is a part of my job. Even having exposure to this population, I learned a LOT. The author effortlessly weaves together a personal narrative of both donor and recipient (with the appropriate respectfulness and nuance of recognizing how one life ended too soon can give the gift of life to someone else) as well as the history of transplants, both heart and otherwise. The historical detail brings the process of transplant to life just as much as the narrative, which I didn't expect but was very glad to read. An excellent and flowing nonfiction read.

This book is an engrossing, inspirational account of 2 families that are connected by one organ, a heart. In the intricate tapestry of human biology, the heart holds a dual significance as both a vital organ and a poignant symbol of our humanity. Dr. Rachel Clarke delves into the annals of medical progress in organ transplantation, intricately weaving together the narrative of two young individuals—one desperately in need of a cardiac transplant.

Following a fateful summer day, nine-year-old Keira Ball faced a tragic car accident that left her with devastating brain injuries. As her body succumbed to the trauma, her heartbeat persisted, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity. In an act of exceptional altruism, Keira's family readily consented to her becoming an organ donor, recognizing her desire to contribute to the lives of others. A parallel narrative unfolded with nine-year-old Max Johnson, courageously battling a debilitating virus that threatened his young heart. The pivotal moment arrived when Max's family received the long-awaited call, knowing that it came at the cost of another family's unimaginable loss—a sobering reality in the domain of transplant medicine.

The miraculous synchrony of Keira's heart finding a new rhythm within Max's body marked a poignant chapter in medical science. Beyond this remarkable feat lay a broader narrative. While awaiting the transplant, Max emerged as a beacon of hope in advocating for legislative changes in organ donation policies within the UK. Post-surgery, Keira's mother was moved to see Max's jubilant picture on the newspaper's front page, realizing that he was the recipient of her daughter's heart, a gesture of gratitude conveyed through an anonymous letter from Max's family. The serendipitous connection led to a heartfelt exchange between the two mothers, culminating in a poignant meeting.
This poignant narrative encapsulates the profound journey of grief transmuted into a gift of life.

Dr. Clarke unfolds the urgent trajectory of Keira's heart transplant while delving into the historical tapestry of surgical innovations spanning over a century. The narrative pays homage not only to the surgical pioneers but also to the myriad healthcare professionals—nurses, technicians, immunologists, and paramedic whose collective dedication made this transformative surgery a reality. "The Story of a Heart" stands as a testament to the compassion shown to the terminally ill, the myriad ways we commemorate our loved ones, and the unwavering resilience of love.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. This was truly a book that I could not put down once I started. A "feel good' story that shows that humans are good, kind, and giving.

With painstaking detail, the author takes the reader through the history of heart transplants.
But with a twist, from both sides. From the donor to the recipient.

Loaded with facts and emotions, the author gives the reader the story of Max and Keira. What happened that Max needed a heart and how Keira was able to donate her heart.

This book is not for the faint of heart (pun intended), I openly wept many times while reading this book. Keiras family made me ache to give them a hug.

Yet this book also talks about the medical side of this triumphant heart transplant. Its not dry, its human. And for that I thank the author.