What a great story. It's about a seventeen-year-old athlete from a large New England family who suddenly became gravely ill. For a long time his family thought he just had nasty colds that kept recurring, but it turned out he had heart disease- a childhood illness had damage his heart muscle and it became enlarged. His stricken parents kept the news of Sam's illness to themselves for a while, then broke it to the family: without a new heart, Sam was going to die. The parents took him to California where heart transplants were being done as experimental surgery (at the time, only 310 had been performed in the entire world). There followed a barrage of tests- was Sam sick enough to warrant receiving a heart? was he strong enough- mentally and physically- to face the risks? Through it all he kept a remarkably upbeat attitude. The family rallied around him to help, but it was still an ordeal- parents taking turns travelling to and fro California and New England for the duration of his treatment and recovery. Frightening times when his body began to reject the new heart, then recovered for a while. Very long time in intensive care. Joy at being in the outside world again, experiencing life- differently- but life he was extremely glad for. So many details are probably different nowadays about what heart transplant patients go through, but this is one inspiring read (and fairly well-written too).

from the Dogear Diary ( )

I read this when I was in my late teens and I STILL remember this book. Can't say that about all the books I read at that age. I remember so wanting to know Sam - I think I developed a a little crush on this extraordinary young man and what he endured. I know I cried and still feel a weighted heart thinking about this book. It's sad but makes you appreciate life.

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