Communications: Transplant Books and Reviews

Most recent book and/or review added: Feb 22nd, 2009

"Wow, what a great source of information and inspiration. 
I've already purchased four of the books highlighted here and now
recommend this TRIO resource to my nursing friends..."
- comments from a transplant nurse in Omaha, NE

Introduction:
These book reviews reflect the opinions and writings of Jim Gleason, heart transplant recipient, author and book reviewer, and do not represent the views of TRIO or any of its members.  If you are an author of a transplant related book and would like to submit your book for review consideration, send an e-mail request to GleasonJim@aol.com and I promise you a prompt reply.

On the TRIO Bulletin Board, under the Transplant: Book Reviews forum, there are short descriptive summaries of many transplant books. Full reviews of these books are linked from those entires, but also listed here alphabetically to guide your transplant reading pleasure.

While many of these books may be out of print, try the Amazon.com web site and if the book is  listed is is often available as a used and heavily discounted book, sometimes for as little as $0.01 (plus shipping and handling of $3.99).

Keep in mind that typically it takes some extreme experience to have a story worth writing a book about, so what you read in these books, while factual and real-life, should not be taken as "typical" transplant experiences. Every patient will have their own unique transplant challenges and outcomes. Read them for the inspiration they offer us all in how the human spirit can deal with life's "adventures" and then go off to write your own "real-life" story.

Click on the book title to download the full review (each a PDF file between 30k and 100k in size) where a review exists.  Not all have reviews to download and some are in progress of being written.

Note: for a graphical book cover list of the most recently reviewed books, click here --> Book Reviews

• A Change of Heart by Claire Sylvia with Wm Novak (1997) (Claire Sylvia's heart/lung transplant story and her post transplant change of personality traits experience)
  
• A Gift for Ron, Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron by Everson Walls and Kevin Blackistone (2009) (football sports story about NFL player donating a kidney to help a fellow player) Review pending
  
• A Gift from the Heart  (heart patient shares experiences and support in a free book on data CD - read via the online title link here or send request for the CD to Gleasonjim@aol.com with your mailing address)
  
• A New Heart for Christmas  (a Christmas pageant script and music about "one small child, one big miracle" waiting for a heart transplant that finally comes at Christmas)
  
• Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins (reflections on healing and regeneration as perceived by the patient)
  
• Better by Atul Gawande (2007) (a surgeon's notes on performance)
  
• Black and White and Red All Over by  Martha McNeil Hamilton & Warren Brown (2002) (review pending) (living kidney donation to co-worker of a different race)
  
• Breathtaking by Amber Nicole Metz (CF patient with double lung transplant)
  
• Burned But Not Broken by Michael Nolte (extreme burn patient with tissue transplant)
  
• Change of Heart by Brian Hartford and Peggy McCardle  (heart transplant life story)
• Change of Heart (a novel about prisoner's offer of his heart for victim's daughter's transplant)
  
• Cold Hands, Warm Heart - a novel by Jill Wolfson (2009) (teen story of friendship and heart transplant)
  
• Coma Life by Richard S. Darling, D.D.S.  (multiple liver transplant patient recalls life during coma)
  
• Conquering Life's Curves: Baseball, Battles & Beyond  by Ed Hearn and Gene Frenette  (2000) (about the ups and downs of professional baseball playing and ups and downs of kidney disease; of winning, and meeting the challenges in his struggle to overcome the limitations of chronic kidney failure and dialysis)
  
• Coping with an Organ Transplant by Elizabeth Parr, Ph.D. and Janet Mize, R.N. (2001) (sound information and meaningful  advice from an organ transplant recipient and a transplant nurse)
  
• Dancing with Angels - A Transplant Odyssey by Elizabeth Pratt (2008) (a large collection of 66 short chapter writings about organ donation and transplantation built around the author's own true story)
  
• Dying to Live by Gaea Shaw  (heart transplant patient story of recovery and new life winning medals in swimming)
  
• Dying Was the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me by William E. Hablitzel, MD (2006)  (doctor's collection of dying patients lessons in living)
  
• Every Second Counts by Donald McRae (2006)  (story of first human heart transplant, historical narrative)
  
• Extra Time: A story of a Liver Transplant by Margaret Chalmers (1995) (true life first hand account of a liver transplant)
  
• Field Notes on the Compassionate Life by Marc Ian Barasch  (research book on human compassion with a few examples from organ donation)
  
• Fighting for Life: The story of a courageous pro-life Democrat whose own brush with death made medical history by Robert P. Casey (1996) (true life story of Pennsylvania Governors life saving and history making heart/liver transplant in 1993) (Review pending)
  
• Final Exam by Pauline Chen  (liver transplant surgeon shares own experiences through medical training and later as a
  practicing surgeon with death and dying)
  
• Friends, Lovers, Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith  (novel involving heart transplant)
  
• Giving Life by Tom Falsey (2008) (collection of donor and transplant stories)
  
• Glamour Interrupted  by  Steve Cojocaru (2008) (Humorous, true to life journey through pre-transplant;transplant, and after transplant  care based on two kidney transplants )
  
• God Spare Life by Dr Claudia Lynn Thomas  (transplant surgeon's own kidney transplant story)
  
• Great Medical Discoveries - Heart Transplants by Nancy Hoffman (2003) (story of heart transplantation through pioneering surgeons and courageous patients -from the first operation on a beating human heart to the reality of the artificial heart, the rapid progression of cardiac surgery and the ethical issues that arise with each new development are discussed)
• Hanging by a String by Marilyn Gibson (lupus patient leads to kidney transplnat through living donation)
  
• Healing Hearts: A Memoir of a Female Heart Surgeon by Kathy E. Magliato, MD (2010) (Autobiography of  the life and career of a female heart srugeon in a male world of surgeons)  (Review pending)
  
• Heartfelt, a Journey Through Transplant by Joseph Panza (2009) (heart transplant love story told from the husbands caregiver side) - review pending
  
• Hearts Like Mine by Merle Zuel (2009) (one man's journey through his heart transplant and recovery)
  
• Hello darlin': Tall (and absolutely true) tales about my life by Larry Hagman (2001) (entertaining autobiography of "Dallas" TV star who has long served as the US Transplant Games host sharing his liver transplant success) (Review pending)
  
• Hit the Ground Running: An Insider's Guide to Surviving Hep D, Liver Transpalnt and Beyond by Pam Shuford Murray (2007) (how to be a proactive member of your health team through liver disease and successful transplant)
  
• Hope from My Heart by Rich DeVos  (2000) (ten lessons for life from heart transplant recipient and Amway founder, Rich DeVos)
  
• How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, MD (how doctors come to the diagnosis and how a patient can help them make the correct one)
  
• How to Live Between Office Visits by Bernie Siegel, MD (1993) (a guide to life, love and health)
  
• How We Die by Sherwin B. Nuland, MD  (1995) (medical insights into the body's dying process for major causes of death)
  
• I'll Take Tomorrow by Mary Gahlke/Max Jennings (1985) (Story of a Courageous Woman Who Dared to Subject Herself to a Medical Experiment-The First Successful Heart-Lung Transplant)
  
• Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely (2009) (his first novel, an emotional journey of the heart, relates the story of two Midwestern families after a death and the gift of a life saving heart transplant)
  
• Laura's New Heart by Laura Fine (2004) (a spiritual healer's life story of her journey through heart transplant)
  
• Letters for Lizzie by James O’Donnell  (real-life caregiver letters to heart transplant wife)
  
• Life in Limbo by Lisa Stiles Nance  (caregiver’s side of the story with the patient’s spouse sharing her wait for his heart transplant)
  
• Life is a Gift by Bob & Judy Fisher (2008) ("inspirations from the soon departed" is a collection of insights from interviews with 104 patients in hospice care i.e., in their final days - not directly transplant related)
  
• Lifelines: the Intimate Experiences of a Transplant Patient and His Family by Ronald P. Jensh, Ph.D. (2000)  (A diary based account of this physician's heart transplant expereience with emphasis on relationships of support) (Review pending)
  
• Life Row by Ed Linz (1997) (a case study of how a family can survive a medical crisis based on author's real life heart transplant life experience)
  
• Living a Miracle by Randy Sims (2006)  (motivational insights from a CF patient with double lung transplant)
  
• Molecules of Emotion by Candace B. Pert, Ph.D. (1997) (research scientist describes the search for biochemical links in the human body, possibly related to "cellular memory" in the peptides of the transplanted cell)
  
• Mr. Right and My Left Kidney by Joan Saltzman  (love story of living kidney donation between spouses)
  
• Mr. NewHeart by David Hollar  (early on - '91 - heart transplant patient story of hope and faith)
  
• My Name is Joe by Richard L. Holloway (2006) (fiction story but based on liver transplant for their 4 year old son)
  
• My Brother's Gift by Linda Selvey Coyle (2008) (donor story as told through the eyes of a sixth grader living through the loss of her older brother)
  
• My Favorite American by Dennis McCloskey (2008) (inspirational biobraphy of a living donor kidney recipient young woman in Central PA overcoming PKD)
  
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (2004) (novel of family complexities involving a child born to provide bone marrow for her sister with leukemia, legally rebelling when called upon to be a living kidney donor at age 13)
  
• New Life by Bob Violino  (collection of transplant stories by TRIO member)
  
• Nick's New Heart by Susan May (2008)  (pediatric heart transplant family success story)
• Not So Brave by Robert Jaunsen (2009) (a novel - based on real life author's daughter - of young girl who overcomes a lifetime of medical challenges with a heart/liver transplant)
  
• Now Caitlin Can by Ramona Wood  (children's picture book telling story of pediatric kidney transplant)
  
• One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling  (2008) (novel of donor accident and resulting Christmas gifting of a heart)
  
• On the List by Steve Farber and Harlan Abrahams (2009) (true life story of living kidney donations with detailed description of how the process works and arguments for change in that process) (review pending)
  
• Or You Can Let Him Go by Kathryn Seidick (young couple's struggle to give their son a future full of hope despite kidney disease) (review pending)
  
• Organ Procurement and Transplantation by the Committee on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Policy (1999) (an assessment of the potential impact of the Final Rule on organ transplantation)
  
• Organ Transplant: The Music of Life by Caren Mazure  (double lung patient account of dealing with life's challenges)
  
• Organ Transplants by Robert Finn  (medical book supported with collected personal advice/experiences in organ transplant)
  
• Plain Vanilla with Rainbow Sprinkles by Tom Kasprzak (2008) (a faith filled family story of Mary, living an inspiring life with Down syndrome, who became an organ donor in passing at age 15)
  
• Prescriptions for Living by Bernie Siegel, MD (1998) (inspirational lessons for a joyful, loving life by this noted heart doctor)
  
• Racing Against Time: Surviving an Organ Transplant and Living a Healthy Life by Anthony Anjoubault (1995) (liver transpalnt success story with advice for healthy living)
  
• Raising Lazarus by Robert Pensack, MD and Dwight Williams (1994) (heart transplant life story of child born with cardiac issues and wanting to become a doctor)
  
• Ready, Set, Wait... Help for a Life on Hold by Karen Barber (1996) (With humor she describes life on hold and how to find solace through fellowship, friendship, and partnership)
  
• Recovering at Home with a Heart Condition by Florence Weiner, Mathew H.M. Lee, MD (1994) (a practical guide to daily living recovering from a heart condition)
  
• Rediscovering My Inner Bitch by Arlene C. Swirsky  (2007) (woman's journey through being "Diced, Spliced, and Transplanted" with a kidney)
  
• Resiliance: Faith,Focus,and Triumph by  Alonzo Mouring & Dan Wetzel (2008) (inspirational memoir by the NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and kidney transplant survivor)
  
• Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett (1998) ( teen reader book; Christmas story about teens searching for brother's heart recipient, used as basis for a movie of same title)
  
• Sick Girl by Amy Silverstein (Oct 2007) (true life account of 19 year heart transplant survivor, Amy Silverstein)
  
• Sick Girl Speaks by Tiffany Christensen (2007)  (CF patient with double lung transplant shares insights into navigating the medical maze)
  
• Some Hearts Have Wings: A True Story of one family's Gift of Life by Lisa McHenry (takes us through a six-year period of her father’s struggle with heart failure, and eventual heart transplant)
  
• Stories From Her Journey by Liz Maxwell
• Stories of the Heart: Reflections on the heart transplant journey by Nancy Siemers (1999) (collection of powerful stories told by 50 persons who have been through the heart transplant experience)
  
• Surviving Liver Diseases: Life with a Liver Transplant by M. Ahmed (1999) (told in two parts: 1st, a personal story of survival with a liver transpalnt, the 2nd, " education about your liver and its life essential role and how to take care of it)
  
• The Art of Aging by Sherwin B. Nuland MD (2007) (a doctor's prescription for well-being)
  
• The Best He Had to Offer by Cynthia B. Herrick  (story of first living kidney transplants between identical twins)
  
• The Climb of My Life by Kelly Perkins (Nov 2007)  (inspiring story of heart transplant who climbs mountains to raise awareness)
  
• The gift of life 2: Surviving the waiting list and liver transplantation: The inspirational story of one man's triumph over terminal liver disease: A guide for transplant patients and their families by Yomtoob & Wepler (2005) (...title says it all)
  
• The Gift That Heals by Reg Green (Jan 2008)  (collection of donor and transplant stories - released also in audio format Dec 2008)
  
• The Heart's Code by Paul Pearsall, Ph.D.  (theoritical study of cellular memory using heart transplant stories as ancedotal support)
  
• The Nicholas Effect by Reg Green (1999) (story of Nicholas Green and his death and donation impact on Italy's views and support of organ donation)
  
• The Mysteries Within by Sherwin B. Nuland, MD (2000) (a surgeon reflects on medical myths)
  
• The Power of Two  by Isabel Stenzel Byrnes & Anabel Stenzel (Nov 2007)  (inspiring story of twin CF patients and their double lung transplants)
  
• The Puzzle People by Thomas E. Starzel (1993) (memoirs of famous transplant surgeon, Thomas E. Starzl, with reflections on today's challenges in the medical/transplant world)
  
• The Soul of Medicine by Sherwin B. Nuland (2009) (a collection of tales from doctors of many different medical areas in answer to the question: "who was your most memorable patient")
  
• The Surgeons by Charles R. Morris (Oct 2007)  (real-life day to day story of life in Columbia-Presbyterian Cardiac unit by a news reporter)
  
• The Uncertain Art by Sherwin B. Nuland (2008) (reflections on his long life in medicine by this renouned physician and author with a final chapter inolving his grief over a patient's death waiting for a heart transplant)
  
• The Wisdom of the Body by Sherwin B. Nuland MD (1997) (also titled "How We Live" in its paperback edition -  the human spirit as described by this noted physician and author)
  
• This Little Heart of Mine by Joanne Farrell (2009) (48 page first person account of recent heart transplant and recovery)
  
• Tiger's Eye: A Memoir by Inga Clendinner (2000) (life expereince of liver disease - 1950's - through successful liver transplant with its mind altering impacts while suffering with that disease)
  
• To the Edge and Back by Chris Klug with Steve Jackson  (liver recipient and Olympic medal winning snow boarder autobiography)
  
• Transplant - a novel by John A. Elefteriades, MD (2009) (thriller story of heart surgeon kidnapped, seduced, thrreatened to make him perform a forbidden procedure)
  
• Transplant: From Myth to Reality by Nicholas L. Tilney, M.D.  (historical story of history of transplantation)
  
• Through the Fire by John Watts (2004) (True Story of The Death To Life Experiences of A Preacher Who Recieved A Heart Transplant)
  
• What's Possible by Daryn Kagan (2008) (collected stories of amazing human accomplishments, some by transplant recipients and organ donor families, also available on the web in daily stories at darynkagan.com)
  
• When Crickets Cry, by Charles Martin (April 2006)  (novel about three heart recipients and their heart transplant surgeon)
  
• Will I Live, Will I Die by Patricia Kuhn (August 2008) (challenging liver transplant life story with insights from within a coma and hallucinatory effects of some meds)
  
• Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz (December 2008) (novel murder mystery about international transplant tourist trade and heart recipient's being hunted down for his heart offense)
  
• YOU, The Owner's Manual by Michael F, Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.  (down to earth medical advice and educational resource for anyone)
  

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