Books & Java

The Promise of Stardust 

by Priscille Sibley

Synopsis:

Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, seventeen when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and thirty-three when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything-except the baby they've always wanted. When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing-a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support. But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle's pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt's mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court-armed with Elle's living will.


Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family . . . and one single life.

My Review:

Imagine being faced with the choice of honoring your wife's "Do not resuscitate" request or saving the life of the unborn child she is carrying. After a traumatic brain injury, Elle is left in a vegetative state. Her husband, Matt, who is a neuron-surgeon knows that her expressed request was that she be allowed to die in peace and no resuscitation efforts be made. However, things get complicated as he finds out from the ER physician that she was 8 weeks pregnant and the fetus is alive and well. What would Elle want him to do? 

Matt is torn between what he knows clinically, what he knows about the only person he every truly loved and wife (Elle), and what the law will allow. There are also the opinions and strong feelings of all around Elle - her dad, her brother, her friend, etc. And to complicate matters worse Elle and devout Catholic and the church's stance on terminating a life which incites the court of public opinion that has naturally formed from all of the media coverage of the case. 

This book handles a lot of issues regarding life/death, quality vs. quantity of life, the choice to die with dignity, when is a life considered a life (at conception or after the 8 week time frame the courts deem it a fetus), religious doctrine, etc. However, this author beautifully tells the story without getting on any kind of "soap box". 

Everyone has a good argument in the matter and no one is 100% right. Whether you take a pro-life or pro-choice stance or whether your religious beliefs dictate your opinion, this story is honest and emotive. I could not put this book down. Regardless of my views on any of the topics addressed or my religious beliefs, it was refreshing to see so many perspectives being expressed. It goes to show that some things are not simply black and white. Some decisions (most important ones in my opinion) are shaded in a great deal of gray and the law and religion can only serve as guide.