Little Matches

the long version

"An emotionally raw and inspiring memoir that illuminates a mother's grief over the loss of her adult child and considers the hope of soulful connections that transcend the boundary of life and death"-- When their only child was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at the age of two, O'Hara and her husband were told that Caitlin could live a long life or be dead in a matter of months. Thirty-one years later, Caitlin lost her battle with this devastating disease following an excruciating two-year wait on the transplant list and a last-minute race to locate a pair of healthy lungs. Left in an existential crisis, O'Hara began to notice signs-- poignant, persistent synchronicities that seemed to lean toward proof of Caitlin's enduring presence. Her book is a reflection on life and death, motherhood, the pain of chronic uncertainty, and finding inspiration in the unexpected sparks that light our way through the darkness. -- adapted from jacket