Texas Book-aholic

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

I HATE PINATAS

Surviving Life's Unexpected Surprises

A Memoir

Heather Maloy

Heart surgery doesn't happen in a vacuum. This is what Heather Maloy learned first-hand when her son, Colman, was diagnosed in utero with a combination of congenital heart defects which are fatal without surgical intervention. I Hate Piñatas is a compelling story of hope and strength that vacillates between heartbreaking and outrageously funny as Maloy takes you through what three heart surgeries in three years looked like for one family.

Author's Note: I Hate Piñatas is not an inspirational book, but rather a true and honest account of what we went through as a family. In my quest to keep it real, there are curse words contained within the story. However, it's my hope that this book will leave you feeling inspired.

BUY LINKS:

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Awards won by I HATE PINATAS

2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards' Gold Medalist - Best Adult Non-Fiction E-Book
Honorable Mention in the 2015 San Francisco Book Festival
2015 Indie Excellence Awards' Finalist - Memoir.

Kirkus Review

Maloy bares her heart (and sometimes her teeth) in an honest debut that’s both snarky and sweet.

It’s hard to imagine that a memoir about a baby with a rare heart defect could make readers laugh. But that’s what “Crazy Heart Mama” Maloy’s blunt South Texas voice does. Sometimes her irreverent humor feels more like whistling in the dark; e.g., when first finding out that something could be wrong with her baby, she sadly wonders if he’ll be a “bobblehead.” Other times, her gritty humor is a pressure valve releasing stress, albeit in a juvenile way, such as when she felt like telling her mother-in-law to “go eat a giant bag of dicks.” And there are a few startling admissions; for example, when sick baby Colman wouldn’t sleep, she almost called him a “little fucker.” But honesty is the beauty of Maloy’s to-the-point voice. What sleep-deprived mom hasn’t fantasized—even with a healthy baby—about handing her screaming bundle of poop to somebody else for eight hours? The fact is that when Colman was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and a leaky valve, Maloy rolled up her sleeves and became his biggest advocate. Describing Colman’s condition as being born with “half a heart,” Maloy adroitly details the excruciating choices she and her husband had to make. None of the options were good. The author’s brusque voice may make some readers flinch—at times, even her family thought she was cold—but there’s no doubt that she dearly loves her son. Whether it was caring for Colman’s bloody hernia, being covered in projectile vomit, or waiting through surgery during which her baby would be clinically dead, Maloy’s well-written, heart-rending story spares no detail.

A heartbreaking, inspirational account.

Heather Maloy works full-time as a court reporter in district court and writes sporadically on her blog, Crazy Heart Mama.

She lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband, three boys, and their dog Buster, who doesn't seem to mind that none of his people are dog people.

By Deana Dick

The joy of finding out you are pregnant is short lived when Heather and her husband receive devastating news. Their baby that they have been so excited to have has been diagnosed with HLHS in utero. The shock and disbelief is overwhelming. Every moment, everyday, every decision depended on the fast action done to save this precious child's life. Heather was ready to fight and became well informed about the illness. She would not take no for an answer. She wanted results and through her research and commitment the best physicians were found to help save their child.

The baby, Colman is a fighter and I cannot even comprehend the tests, the surgeries and setbacks this family faced everyday. I was emotionally drained as I read the book, but I couldn't put it down. Heather wrote with brutal honesty , the daily struggle Colman went through. I loved her candor and fierce spirit as her and her husband began a journey that no parent wants to face. Some may say Colman had hurdles to face, but in reality they were huge mountains that were tough to climb. The strength of this family is a testament to their unconditional love for a child who some didn't think would make it. Her in-laws didn't seem to be much help and at times I almost hoped they would leave the room so Heather wouldn't be so stressed out.

This book is a very hard book to read without becoming sad, angry and hopeful . I loved what Heather wrote and I think it is a perfect way to end this review. " I wasn't so sure I'd outlive Colman anymore. He chipped away chunks of my life expectancy with one crazy stunt after another , and I didn't see that changing anytime soon. All I could do was make the most of everything and enjoy this life while it lasts. One heartbeat at a time."

I received a copy of this book from Lone Star BookBlog Tours for an honest review