SHOES FOR NANCY

by Marguerite Hamilton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 26, 1955

A story of spiritual triumph comes from the mother of Nancy Hamilton, who was born shortly after her father's death in an automobile accident, with the deformities of a rare congenital disease, lymphohemangioma. Marge Hamilton faced her trials with courage and with a pride that she learned to lose, as she devoted her life to her child, whose blue eyes and beautiful soul reached out to her as they did to everyone who came to know her. Accepting the shocking series of operations that included incisions and then amputations, Nancy carried on valiantly and with hope:- delighting in the ride on the yellow Daylight train; looking forward to red shoes but buying blue because it was Marian Year; thanking the doctor who took off her two tremendous fingers, for fixing her hand; pretending to run in child games and explaining matter-of-factly her inabilities to curious but accepting children. Marge Hamilton learned from her daughter not to be ashamed of Nancy's body, nor of accepting charity. She followed her in finding meaning for everything in the Catholic church. (Hospital nuns told her that God gave his greatest crosses to those he loved most.) The struggle for spiritual meaning has been more successful than that for physical health -- the disease has worked further up into Nancy's body and she knows that she is waiting...Anguished even in acceptance, this is overwhelmingly touching in its cumulative effect where each episode pulls heart strings. Illness and inspiration combine to swamp the reader. Regional -- West coast, neighbors and friends of Roy Rogers & Dale.

Pub Date: Oct. 26, 1955

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Lippincott

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1955

Categories: NONFICTION