Elena Desserich dreamed of becoming a teacher. Although her time on this earth was far too short to fulfill her dream, she left behind an enlightening lesson plan on life. Wise beyond her years, Elena never stopped teaching those around her to appreciate the miracle of everyday living even as the innocent six-year-old battled a rare form of brain cancer.
Through personal and candid journal entries written as a remembrance for Elena's younger sister, Brooke and Keith Desserich share their emotional journey as they negotiated their contradictory impulses to fight Elena's cancer at all costs and realized the inevitable outcome. Page by page, this journal is a reminder to parents everywhere to appreciate and savor every precious moment they have with their own children.
Notes Left Behind tells a story of humility and inspiration. From the time of her diagnosis, Elena accomplished a truly spectacular series of wishes, big and small, that she alone created, from riding in a horse-drawn carriage to painting a masterpiece that would hang in an art museum. Her life motivated the creation of the foundation, The Cure Starts Now, which today helps children everywhere in their fight against cancer. The authors’ proceeds from the sale of this book benefits this foundation.
Included in the pages of this book are Elena's private messages that she secretly hid around her home, knowing her family would find them when she was gone. These notes show us how even during the darker moments of life, it is possible to find hope and encouragement through selfless love.
It is obvious from the summary on the book jacket that this is a very sad book, but I truly underestimated the level of sad. I cried, yes cried, my way through this book. Even looking at the included pictures of this vibrant little girl succumb to cancer was depressing. Though not having experienced real illness in our family, I am not sure who I would recommend this book to. While it is emotional and interesting, it was not enjoyable. Though what stayed with me is to appreciate my children and our good fortune--I checked on them in bed at least 4 times as I was reading this book.
writes,
I'm a fairly slow reader, and I got through all 200+ pages of this book in 1 day. Any parent with young children could benefit by reading, and feeling the heartbreak that this family went through with Elena and her battle. It's amazing how the words of someone else can show you how prescious life is, and how we should look past the petty things in life to focus on what is really important.
I think that it's disappointing that someone would give this 3 stars because the authors are not spiritual enough.
writes,
Keith Desserich and his wife Brooke have published a hreatbreaking account of the last months of their six year old daughter Elena's all too brief life which was cut short by brain cancer. Although both parents are listed as authors of this book, the majority was written by Elena's father. Notes Left Behind is drawn from an online journal that the family started after Elena's diagnosis.
I've read many journals like this one online over the past few years. My nephew was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia with a horrifying low survival rate before he turned two. My nephew was lucky and beat the odds as he was able to receive a bone marrow transplant from his brother. My brother and sister-in-law kept a journal [...] where we've seen so many children who didn't make it. I keep those families in my thoughts daily.
There were two missing parts to Elena's story that I felt could have given this account a higher star rating had they been included. First, I realize the diary began as an account for Elena's sister, Grace. Still, it would have been stronger had there been more about Elena's life (and the family's life) before cancer and a little more information about realizing something was wrong and getting help. Maybe I missed it but I was 2/3rds of the way through the book before I figured out that Elena had a sore throat that wouldn't go away and then they figured out it was a brain stem glioma.
The other part is the painful part where you recount your life without your child. Perhaps the family doesn't feel comfortable sharing that, and this is a story of Elena's life. It's also a story of loss and there's just something missing.
My heart goes out to the Desserich family. I can't imagine living through the nightmare of losing a child and desperately hope that I'll never have to experience their loss.
