Saving Jessica [Paperback]

Lurlene McDaniel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1996 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Jessica McMillian and Jeremy Travino are a perfect couple.   But now Jessica has been diagnosed as having kidney failure.   She is on dialysis three days a week and is so depressed that she's not sure she wants to live.  Her one hope for a normal life is a kidney transplant, but she's an only child and her parents aren't suitable donors.   Jeremy is determined to donate one of her kidneys to her, but his parents are terrified of losing their only child.  Will Jeremy find the strength to go against his parent's wishes and do what he must to save Jessica?

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Jessica McMillian and Jeremy Travino are a perfect couple.   But now Jessica has been diagnosed as having kidney failure.   She is on dialysis three days a week and is so depressed that she's not sure she wants to live.  Her one hope for a normal life is a kidney transplant, but she's an only child and her parents aren't suitable donors.   Jeremy is determined to donate one of her kidneys to her, but his parents are terrified of losing their only child.  Will Jeremy find the strength to go against his parent's wishes and do what he must to save Jessica?

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"Happy Birthday, Jessie!"

Jessica blew out the eighteen candles on the cake her mother set in front of her, and smiled at the three people who meant the most to her in all the world--her parents and Jeremy.  How different this birthday was from the one the year before.  Before her kidneys had failed.  "The cake's beautiful, Mom."

She knew her mother had slaved for hours to create a cake that could be incorporated into her diet.  She couldn't have much of it, and truthfully she wasn't even hungry, but she was determined to let her mother know how much she appreciated her effort.  Especially now that Dr. Witherspoon had told them that neither parent could donate a kidney to her.  They'd felt so awful about it.

"You should start a bakery, Ruth," her father said.  "The recipes you come up with are sensational."

Her mother sent him a smile.  "When this is over, I'll never think about cooking again.  We'll eat every meal out after Jessie's better."

Jessica knew her mother had high hopes that the doctors would find her a donor kidney.  Jessica was less optimistic.

"Open your presents," Jeremy said eagerly.

He's been acting peculiar all day.  Sort of antsy, as if he were a time bomb waiting to explode.

Jessica longed to really join the party.  She wanted so much to please all of them.  But she felt awful.  Her dialysis the day before hadn't gone well.  Her fistula had begun to clot, and now she was on bloodthinning medication and antibiotics.  Her arm was sore.  And already edema, swelling, had started in her ankles and feet.  "Who's first?" she asked.

"Mine last," Jeremy said, snatching away the small box.

"Try ours." Her father handed her a narrow box wrapped with pink paper and a purple ribbon.

She tore open the paper and eased the top off the box.  A glittering gold charm bracelet lay on a bed of white cotton.  She caught her breath.  "It's gorgeous!"

"Do you like it?" her mother asked.  "We've already chosen a charm and thought we could add one for every special occasion."

A solid gold "18" dangled from the delicate chain of double links.

"It's perfect.  You know I've always wanted one.  Thanks so much."

"When you graduate, you'll get another charm."

The ceremony was scheduled for Friday night in the civic auditorium.  Jessica had her robe and mortarboard and at the ceremony would receive her diploma and tassel.  If she felt up to walking across the stage.

"Don!" her mother admonished.  "You weren't supposed to tell her.  It was a surprise."

Her father blinked sheepishly.  "Oops."

Jessica giggled.  "I'll act surprised when I open it.  Promise." She turned to Jeremy.  "Well, are you going to let me have my present?"

He held out the box.

"It sure is small," she said teasingly.

"Big surprises come in small packages."

She unwrapped it and discovered another charm.  This one was a bright gold kidney bean.  "This is unusual."

He grinned.  "It's not what it is, it's what it represents that's important."

"A bean? You think I'm full of beans?" She was having fun teasing him, watching his cheeks flush red.

"No.  It's a kidney." He took a deep breath.  "My kidney.  I've already talked to Dr.  Witherspoon about donating one of my kidneys to you."

For a stunned moment, no one spoke.  Then everyone spoke at once.

Her mother started crying.  "It's a miracle.  An answer to prayer."

Her father gasped and began to bombard Jeremy with questions.  "What? How? Are you sure?"

Jeremy held up his hands.  "Wait a minute.  I can't answer all of you at once." He grasped Jessica's hands and gazed lovingly into her eyes.  "You first."

She was overcome with emotion; large tears pooled in her eyes.  "You're the most wonderful person in the world, Jeremy." She swallowed against the lump of gratitude in her throat.  "I appreciate your offer more than words can say. But I can't take your gift, Jeremy. I simply can't."

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553567217
• ISBN-13: 978-0553567212
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lurlene McDaniel is known for her poignant inspirational novels. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a caring book, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Saving Jessica (Paperback)

In Saving Jessica by Lurlene McDaniel Jessica, a girl with a kidney problem, needs a kidney transplant or she will be on a machine for the rest of her life. Jessica decides that she wants a kidney transplant so she will not be on a machine. Jessica's boyfriend, Jeremy, is the only match for the transplant. Jeremy's parents don't want him t do the transplant because they think that they will lose their only living child. So Jeremy takes them to court because he wants to go through with the transplant. This book is for young adults. I like this book because it shows how much the characters care for each other in order to save one person.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NL-S Approved Book, March 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Saving Jessica (Paperback)

Lurlene McDaniel's book, Saving Jessica, is one of the best books I've ever read that has dealt with being diagnosed with a deadly disease at a young age. The quality of this book is exceptional. She tells about the hardships of growing up with a disease that may or may not end someone's life. She also tells how families deal with pain of having a disease in their life and/or losing the person that had the disease.

The setting of Saving Jessica is familiar to me. It takes place in a hospital in Washington D.C. and in a small suburb of Virginia. The plot was everything from dramatic, when Jessica was diagnosed with having kidney failure, to romantic, when Jeremy, her boyfriend, gave up everything that Jessica couldn't have and offered to donate his kidney to save her life. The plot of this story caught my attention extremely well. At first I thought that Jessica would die because she wasn't doing well on dialysis and she had a few relatives to donate her their kidney and none of them were compatible. So Jeremy went through all the testing and found that he was very compatible. The doctors couldn't believe it.

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good book. It is easy to read and is very well written.It shows how families can be torn apart and how they can be brought closer together by diseases.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a little too perfect, November 28, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Saving Jessica (Paperback)

This book almost seemed unrealistic. Pretty different from most of Lurlene McDaniel's books.

When the book starts, Jessica's 17 and in the hospital getting some test done. She already has this perfect boyfriend, Jeremy, who adores her. The only "problem" is that he's year and a half younger then her. He's 16. You don't even notice. When Jessica finds out that her kidneys are failing, she's devestated. She's going to have to go on dyalsis 3 days a week for 4 hours for the rest of her life. The machine will do the job of her kidneys. The only other option would be a kidney transplant, which could be risky. Jessica's mad and angry, and hates depending on a machine.

Jeremy of course sticks with her and continues to love her. To be honest, I wasn't seeing the friction. Like, I seriously didn't get why they were togeteher. Anyway, Jeremy decides to donate one of his kidneys to Jessica. He wants to be her donor. Jessica wants to be sure this is what he really wants, but her parents are thrilled. Tragically, Jeremy's parents refuse to let him do it. He them tries to sue them and make it so he's not under her custody. That way he won't need thier permission to donate his kidney to Jessica. It seems like going too far if you ask me.

Read this book if you want it to turn out perfect. But trust me, the romantic aspect was just too perfect to be real.