Amanda's Gift: One Family's Journey Through the Maze of Serious Childhood Illness

I personally went to school with Amanda about 6 years ago. Both her and her family are some of the most wonderful people. This book is truly inspiring. I recommend it to any parent. I am tearing up thinking about their struggles as I am now a parent myself.

I found this book very helpful after our 3 year old was diagnosed with a life threatening illness, PH+ALL. We were able to identify with many of the same experiences as Amanda's family, from middle of the night fevers, failed IV attempts, neglected siblings, friends and coworkers offers of help, and many bills. This book taught us to never turn down help when it is offered. Family, friends, and coworkers want to help and need to. We know that we would feel the same. "Amanda's Gift" reminded us to take care of our marriage and our other children. So we kept date night, and made time to relax, or go out for ice cream with our other children. The author talks about his personal relationship with God, how he was able to put his trust for his daughters future in God's hands.

This book has truly helped me, go through the illness and death of my 4 1/2 yr old special needs son. What is so neat is that while this family lived in IL, Amanda and her sister attended the preschool and school where I worked. I met Amanda in person , and watched her in the "green room" many times. I always remember holding her and "Bunnylove" little did I know that when I became a mother I would go down the long road of having a sick child who now lives with the angel's. I hope and pray Amanda is alive and well, but if she too has gone home with the Angel's I know she and my little boy are together

This author has provided the public at large with several real gifts. The first is the gift of his beautiful daughter, Amanda. The second was his unflinchingly honest assessment of Amanda's illness and the tragic impact it had on her family. The third gift was making his (and Amanda's) story public. This man has done an invaluable service and one can't help but hope for peace in their lives. This book is very inspirational.

This book, to be quite honest, at times is hard to read. Not because it doesn't flow or make sense, but because it is so easy to relate to what Scott has written. There were many times when I found myself thinking how I have expressed many of the same emotions and frustrations that Scott wrote about. It brought tears on more than one occassion. However, I am very glad I read the book. It is very helpful. Both with practical advice and in dealing with your emotions as you battle serious childhood illness. Thank you Scott, your book has been a gift to countless families.