Judy Walters

Oliver was given two years to live. Beyond that his family lived on pins and needles knowing it could be any day now. Imagine living in a family that faced this realization for nearly 15 years.

The Connelly family was a happy one. Alice’s husband Ryan was a successful architect. Nineteen-month-old Olivia was a precocious toddler. But then Alice began having doubts about the development of newborn Oliver. When placed on his tummy he did not raise his head as babies his age typically did. He did not wave his arms or kick his legs. He just – flopped. At the age of four months he was diagnosed with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Children with this diagnosis do not typically live more than two years.

The story explores how the family as a unit is effected and the impact Oliver’s illness has on each member of the family. Some families become stronger, others fall apart. Will the Connelly family survive?

I thought the portrayal of each member of the family to be very realistic. The mother becomes totally focused on the sick child to the exclusion of everything and everyone else. The father distances himself. Firstborn Olivia wants to shake the identity as the girl with the dying brother. And then when Oliver was 2 ½ years old Poppy was born. She came into a family where she was invisible, always waiting for her turn to have a story read to her, to have a hug, to be loved.

The chapters alternate from the points of view of Alice, Olivia, and Poppy and shift back and forth between before Oliver dies and after Oliver dies. During the 15 years of Oliver’s life we get a glimpse of the smart, funny child is in in spite of his illness.

The full spectrum of emotions are bared in this story. Can the family survive? If so, how will each member be changed as a result of not only Oliver’s death, but also his life? Your heart will break – you will laugh – you will grieve – you will rejoice.… (más)