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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Family History, September 7, 2004
This review is from: Born With a Broken Heart (Paperback)
How well do you know your family's history? Are there any rare genetic disorders that seem to plague family members, no matter the generation? Whether your answer is yes or no, I invite you to take a glimpse into the lives of Creola Pittman Colon and her family, a family haunted by the mysterious deaths of almost every male in their family.
For decades, the Pittman's believed their family was under a curse that would claim the lives of nearly every one of their baby boys. No matter what they did, using old home remedies passed down from generation to generation, or seeking the pitiful excuse for medical care that was available to poor Black families in the mid-1900's, the babies still died. Their deaths were not quick and merciful, instead they were almost always long, drawn out, and painful.
Tired of attending funerals and not knowing what was claiming the lives of her brothers, nephews, and two of her sons, Creola takes it upon herself to find out all she can about the "cuhs" that her family can't seem to shake. She's met with roadblock after roadblock, not only from doctors who couldn't explain the mystery, but also from family members who believed it best to not try to unearth any secrets that could shed light on the situation. Will this family ever discover what has claimed the lives of their children, or are they doomed to a life of utter despair and hopelessness?
BORN WITH A BROKEN HEART was a very detailed account of the lives of Creola Colon and her family, and the tragedy that has afflicted them for many years. It was heartbreaking to read about the suffering and eventual painful deaths of the babies. While I did enjoy this book, it was often repetitive, and could have been written in fewer pages than it's 591 without detracting from the story at all. I do however, commend the author for sharing her family's tragedies with the world, and endeavoring to find out all she can about the disorder, so that the necessary precautions can be taken in order to spare the lives of future members of her family.
Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read!!, June 21, 2004
This review is from: Born With a Broken Heart (Paperback)
This is a well written story of an extended family's tragic history of giving birth to sons with major heart defects and helplessly witnessing their deaths generation after generation. It testifies to the family' strong faith in the love and protection of God and the miracles that resulted. It chronicles recent surgical triumphs and genetic discovery. Creola's story is that of an extremely courageous, loving woman who never lost her will to fight "the curse" experienced by her beloved family and, in so doing, helped every future child born with the condition known as heterotaxy. Great job Creola. Can't wait to read the next one!!!!! Margie Gosa Shivers
Author
Anonymity: A Tale of Suspense, Seduction and Revenge
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What's Love Got To Do With it?, May 12, 2004
This review is from: Born With a Broken Heart (Paperback)
What's love got to do with it? Everything if your name is Creola Pittman Colon. "Born With A Broken Heart" is a work that could only be brought forth from the depths of the type of loving not often demonstrated in today's world. Ms. Colon's type of love is one that moves beyond the borders of self-preservation. It is one that reaches out to touch lives of persons she will never meet. From inception, "Born With A Broken Heart" plunges the reader into the hardship of sharecropping life. A life hard yet not recognized by the youth until `quiet whispers' and age brings them face to face with reality. Reality for the Pittman family is that they are `cuhs-ed' (cursed). Recollections as far back as the 1940s tell of the bad blood passed on to a majority of the male children of the Pittman family. With great detail Creola Colon takes us on a journey that begins with her exceptional memories at age five in Mossy Island, Mississippi, to present day. Through hardship entwined with brief periods of joy Ms. Colon's candid portrayal of a hard-lived life is one of encouragement. Hers is a life plagued with ongoing loss of male family members, taking on the rearing of siblings, loss of her several of her children, a bad marriage and career disappointment. Ms. Colon places her trust in God to help her through. This trust in God brings about miracles into the lives of suffering children. It is through her faith she comes to realize that God is in control. Relayed details of her daily dance with survival will cause readers to shake off cloaks of self-pity to see the tenacity of a woman on a mission. Ms. Colon's resolve to put an end to the demon stalking her family creates an insatiable drive for truth. Instinct tells her the answer lies within elders whose silence tells more than their tight lips. Despite opposition we see her gathering decades of information to compile for research as well as willingly airing family secrets with medical professionals in hopes of ending illness claiming the male seed of her family. "Born With A Broken Heart" is not just a book that gives us a look at the devastation of a heart condition known as heterotaxy. It is a tale that shows the beauty and strength of a bonded family. The Pittman women are ones to be admired and uplifted for the courage to face the births of children who may be Born With A Broken Heart. -Dr. Linda F. Beed, D.R.E., On Assignment Inc. Flavah Reviewer
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