Book: The Jeffrey Journey
Reviewed by Anita Macaulay
Our copy of the book arrived on Tuesday so I took it home to read knowing that I needed to give it the time, peace and quiet it deserved. I took it to bed with me and quickly found it 'unputdownable'! Helen has a wonderful way of writing, of keeping you just desperate to know what happened next and yet you know as a type I Mum what was likely to happen next.... it is a very vivid account of their all too brief time with Jeffrey. I read the book in two sittings. It was such a gripping story of a baby with type I SMA, I found myself thinking 'gosh' that was just like Jennifer or 'help! I thought just that too and frequently I thought I was going crazy too'.
Helen has an incredible knack of being able to express her feelings, thoughts, great love and acceptance of Jeffrey's fate. The book is an inspiration for anyone who has cared for a type I SMA baby or still walking that painful hard road. It gives great comfort and Helen's belief in God that he will help them cope is a source of great strength to her. I envied her faith. I don't think the book makes good reading for the parents of newly diagnosed type I SMA babies - it is very detailed and as we all know, no two babies are alike so Jeffrey's situation may not be quite the same as another baby....
There is a really good reference section at the end listing a variety of helpful resources including the Jennifer Trust, this is followed by a list, seemingly endless, of little ones still fighting their battles with SMA and finally a too long list of those who have already earned their angel wings.... I felt a quiet peace when if found Jennifer's name there...
The CD is haunting gentle music some of which seemed so sad.
This book is now available from our Book Library - contact Jackie Doubtfire on 01789 267 520 at the JTSMA office alternatively you can buy a copy from Trafford (the publisher), with offices in England and Ireland. You can go to the book page and order directly. It is priced at £15.32, and 10% of the profits from the book are earmarked "for SMA purposes, primarily for - but not limited to - the needs of families, so the more books we sell, the more families we can help!" | 
