Customer Reviews

The Gift Wrapped in Sorrow: A Mother's Quest for Healing

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A well-written account of a single mother's pregnancy, loss of her child to adoption and subsequent search for him. This poignant description of one woman's profound loss typifies the tragedy of millions of women in similar circumstances, who were coerced into giving up their children and the on-going trauma they suffered as a result. A must read for anyone whose life has been affected by adoption

A rare gift indeed; author Jane Guttman allows her readers to participate in her healing process, while deeply touching their inner most pain and hidden sorrow. The book a well written journal weaves the reader through years of the authors secrets, pain, and joy. The reader experiences the intricate web of the healer and healing process. The descriptions of the desert are soothing morsels that give the reader hope and inspiration.

In this profoundly moving journey, we are invited to join this author as she weaves a story of truth, of innocence, of blind trust in her parents, of soul-shattering pain and ultimately of healing. In "The Gift Wrapped in Sorrow," Jane Guttman cracks open her heart and unravels the events which led to the relinquishment of her baby in an unconscious world. After three decades, Dr. Guttman has emerged from these events much like Saki Santorelli depicts in his book, "Heal Thy Self," "shattered but still whole," and at the doorstep of transparent illumination...For those who wish to heal any life loss, this is a quick read that will remain forever etched upon our hearts.

Jane Guttman has provided a soaring account of the struggles and pain of relinquishing a child to adoption, and then embarking upon the healing process of search and reunion.

Undoubtedly this book will uplift birth parents engaged in similar searches for their biological offspring, whom they have never stopped loving.

It is also an excellent read for other members of the adoption triad, especially parents helping their children, adopted at birth or later, to find the biological parents they need to learn their stories, and themselves heal.

Children have the least control in the adoption process, and they need to fill in the blanks to establish their identities, self-worth and most of all, to heal. But it can also be helpful for them, during the search and reunion process, to have a window into the experience of their birth parents, to understand that very often, they did not want to relinquish their child, but were forced to do so by circumstance, or other people in their lives.

This book beautifully describes the birth mother's experience, in ways I found most helpful and enlightening. It is a real God send; thank you, Jane Guttman for having the courage to share your inner most secrets in these pages, thereby helping other families to heal.