TLC Book Tour: Proof of Heaven

Proof of Heaven, by Mary Curran Hackett is a story about a mother and her sick, dying child, but it's also about a journey to understand some of all our questions about life.  Why are we here, and where do we go when we die?

He might be young, but Colm already recognizes the truth: that he’s sick and not getting better. His mother, Cathleen, fiercely believes her faith will protect her ailing son, but Colm is not so sure. With a wisdom far beyond his years, Colm has come to terms with his probable fate, but he does have one special wish. He wants to meet his father who abandoned his beloved mother before Colm was born.

But the quest to find the dying boy’s missing parent soon becomes a powerful journey of emotional discovery—a test of belief and an anxious search for proof of heaven.

Having personal experience as a single mother with a sick child, dealing with doctors who didn't know what was wrong or how to "fix" my child, having friends and family question what really was making my child sick, and having my employment threatened because of numerous emergencies and absences, I was very interested in reading this book.  In fact, I requested to be on this tour.

I found Proof of Heaven amazingly accurate, and heart-breaking.  It's never easy for any parent, whether single or married, to see their child suffer and be unable to do anything about it.  To have professionals not have answers and ultimately lose interest until another "episode" occurs.  Then, when a diagnosis is discovered, to reach that point of screaming, "Why my child!"

I would recommend this book to anyone in the midst of dealing with a child's sickness and possible death because of the powerful relationships that unfold between mother, child, family, and friends.  It brought to reality how everyone is affected and suffers.  And though you won't find answers about the afterlife in this book, it brings together the many views and inner struggles most of us experience in times of trial.

One warning, I felt the author did an amazing job of making the emotions of the characters real and poignant, and in my opinion it wasn't necessary for the intermittent profanity the author chose to include.  For me it definitely detracted from some of the enjoyment of reading her book, and would weigh heavily on some of the people I would recommend this book to.  So, there is a moderate caution in my review.

If you would like to read more reviews about Proof of Heaven here is the list of the other TLC Book Tour hosts:

Tuesday, November 1st: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Wednesday, November 2nd: A Cozy Reader’s Corner
Friday, November 4th: My Heart’s Desire
Tuesday, November 8th: BookNAround
Wednesday, November 9th: Book Club Classics!
Wednesday, November 9th: Into the Hall of Books
Thursday, November 10th: The Lost Entwife
Monday, November 14th: Reflections of a Bookaholic
Tuesday, November 15th: Reviews from the Heart
Wednesday, November 16th: Seaside Book Nook
Thursday, November 17th: A Bookish Libraria 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are my own.