Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story [Hardcover]

Sara Connell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2012

In February 2011, 61-year-old Kristine Casey delivered the greatest gift of all to her daughter, Sara Connell: Sara’s son, Finnean. At that moment, Kristine—the gestational carrier of Sara and her husband Bill’s child—became the oldest woman ever to give birth in Chicago.

Bringing in Finn is the incredible story of one woman’s hard-fought and often painful journey to motherhood. In this achingly honest memoir, Connell recounts the tragedy and heartbreak of losing pregnancies; the process of opening her heart and mind to the idea of her 61-year-old mother carrying her child for her; and the profound bond that blossomed between mother and daughter as a result of their unique experience together.

Moving, inspiring, and ultimately triumphant, Bringing in Finn is an extraordinary tale of despair, hope, forgiveness, and redemption—and the discovery that when it comes to unconditional love, there are no limits to what can be achieved.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sara Connell burns through abstract questions about the ethics and limits of medicalized fertility and gets to the heart of things. The result is a powerful testament to the depth and complexity of mother love. “
—Ariel Gore, founding editor of Hip Mama and the author of Bluebird

“Sara Connell’s journey to motherhood is a modern miracle. Her lyrical book chronicles an adventure that leads us into uncharted territory. Connell reaches deep into her heart to write about the desire for children, the sacred trust of marriage, the enduring bonds between mothers and daughters, and the sustaining power of hope. I couldn’t put it down.”
—Dominique Browning, Senior Director, Moms Clean Air Task Force

“Be prepared to be blown away. Bringing in Finn is about a family so determined to bring a baby into the world that they push every convention possible and succeed in making a miracle.”
—Michelle Lowe, playwright, author of Inana, winner of the 2010 Francesca Primus Prize

“Bringing in Finn is a must-read for anyone who is in any stage of yearning—for a child, for a mother, for a family, for faith. This is a story for anyone with an unfulfilled longing or desire.”
—Christie Tate, author of Outlaw Mama

“…this is an amazing journey, beautifully shared. It calls us to celebrate what matters most, persevere in times of despair, and know the Truth that Love always prevails.”
—Marian Baker, author of Wake Up Inspired

About the Author

Sara Connell is an author, speaker, and life coach with a private practice in Chicago. A frequent media contributor, Sara has appeared on Oprah, NPR, WGN, and FOX News Chicago, and will soon appear on Good Morning America, Nightline, and The View. Sara's writing has been featured in: ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Parenting, Psychobabble, Evolving Your Spirit, and Mindful Metropolis. Her first book, Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story, was nominated for ELLE magazine's 2012 Book of the Year. Visit Sara at her website, saraconnell.com, and on Facebook.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press; First Printing edition (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580054102
• ISBN-13: 978-1580054102
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sara Connell is an author, speaker and life coach with a private practice in Chicago. She is a frequent contributor in the media and has appeared on Oprah, NPR, WGN, FOX News Chicago- upcoming: Good Morning America, Nightline an The View. Sara's writing has been featured in: Elle Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Parenting, Psychobabble, Evolving Your Spirit and Mindful Metropolis magazines. Her first book- Bringing in Finn; an Extraordinary Surrogacy story- nominated for Book of the Year 2012 by Elle Magazine- is Sara's first book. (Sept 4, 2012 Seal Press)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book that Transcends its Tabloidy Premise August 22, 2012

By Elizabeth

Format:Hardcover

I was totally prepared to hate this book. The tabloidy premise, which is a non-fiction account about a woman who has difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term and uses her mother as a surrogate, could have gone horribly wrong in a lot of different ways. However, what I discovered was a very thoughtful account of the desire to mother that led the author to this very unusual decision.

The author is a life coach and speaker by trade which is probably why the book is so grounded in terms of her ability to examine her feelings and motivations in an accessible and interesting way. Although I don't have children and don't particularly want them, her very passionate writing about her desire to have a child with her husband and her pain at not being able to do so made me feel very invested in her quest.

I would warn anyone who has any sort of gynecological trauma in their past that Connell's experience of miscarriage and the multitude of doctors she deals with in her quest to have a baby might be too painful to read. However, I would highly recommend book this for someone looking to investigate what IVF or other fertility treatments entail or for anyone who is interested in thinking more broadly about the meaning of mothering in our society.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put this down-- tears and joy! powerful story August 29, 2012

By Karen Russo

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My heart is so filled up after reading this beautiful book-- I loved Sara's wide open heart and the sweet, loving journey for her whole family. Thank you for the inspiration! love, Karen

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From heartbreaking to heartwarming February 17, 2013

By Rebecca Chamberlain

Format:Kindle Edition

A wonderful story of a mother's love. Sara's pain is hard to read about, but it makes the actions of her mother all that more awesome.