The Heart of Jesus Valentino by Emma Gilkison.
I was caught and held in The Heart of Jesus Valentino from the first page. I could not stop reading about these three heroes – Emma, Roy, and their baby, Jesus Valentino (JV). When Emma and Roy are told after the first scan that their baby’s heart is outside its body (ectopia cordis) the prognosis is not good. Emma might or might not carry the baby to full term but once it is born it will live maybe only a few hours. For Emma and Roy the choice is stark. The pregnancy can be terminated or she can carry JV to full term when he will almost certainly die either during labour or soon after birth. The decision is made, to carry the baby to full term and Roy (who is Peruvian) names his son Jesus Valentino.
The Heart of Jesus Valentinois the story of those months, that journey. Life doesn’t stop, they need to buy a house, Roy needs to go away for a couple of months for his job and to see his parents, Emma works full–time too. There are family and friends. There are daily irritations, misunderstandings, joyful interludes. JV leads Emma and Roy to a Catholic priest, Mother Aubert’s community in Island Bay New Zealand, to a Buddhist group and the value of gathering together and chanting towards a common purpose and through all the medical appointments and consultations. Although there are grief-filled moments, times when it all seems too hard, the story is joyful and inspiring. Emma writes with humour and candour. Here is courage and fear, strength and weakness, love triumphant.
The Heart of Jesus Valentino by Emma Gilkison is a rich and beautiful story, well told.
