A Miracle in the Making

A Journey of Faith, Hope and Love

Non-Fiction - Inspirational
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 05/15/2016
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Patricia Batoba Jones moved to the United States at the age of 15 with her family in pursuit of the American dream. She obtained her Master's degree in social work from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She is a licensed clinical social worker and enjoys helping her clients improve the quality of their lives. Patricia is a devout Christian, a wife, mother, author and speaker. She’s passionate about being transparent and sharing her life lessons with others in the hope of empowering them to live life to the fullest. Patricia lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband and daughter and shares her life’s lessons of faith, hope and love at www.apurelove.com.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

A Miracle in the Making: A Journey of Faith, Hope & Love is a non-fiction inspirational memoir written by Patricia Batoba Jones. The author had been diagnosed with Lupus when she was a child. It was a painful and debilitating disease, and one doctor didn't recommend college for her as he didn't think she'd live long enough to finish her degree. But Jones did go to college, and, even though many thought it would never happen, she was determined to have a baby. When she first met her husband, she was upfront about her health condition and the fact that she would probably never be able to bear a child for him. He wouldn't listen to a word on the subject, and he declared that he'd love her no matter what. They did marry, and for the first several years, they used birth control. Both of them wanted a house to raise their children in, and a financially stable situation, but then it was time to try to start their family. Jones was thrilled when she found she was pregnant, but it was a hard pregnancy as her lupus acted up and the medications she had to take were affecting the health of her unborn baby. While she resisted and prayed as long as she could, her baby was born by Cesarean Section at 24 weeks. It would be some time until she could hold her baby girl, and even longer until she could take her home.

In Patricia Batoba Jones' non-fiction inspirational memoir, A Miracle in the Making: A Journey of Faith, Hope & Love, she shares the challenges, fears, frustrations and triumphs she and her husband experienced as they anxiously watched their premature baby fight for her life. Jones shares all of her feelings, even the occasional twinges of jealousy at seeing other mothers with their 'normal' infants, and watching as those infants were released from the hospital while hers seemed condemned to stay in an incubator for months on end. At times, she came close to feeling suicidal, and she discusses the seriousness of Postpartum Depression and the impact it can have on new mothers, especially those with premature babies. She also discusses the divorce rate for couples with preemies, which is regrettably high. It was one of the reasons the author was inspired to write this memoir, to help others going through their own challenges in the NICU unit. This is an honest, compelling, and beautifully written memoir that reveals so much that happens in the room where those premature babies fight for their survival and in the hearts of their parents. A Miracle in the Making: A Journey of Faith, Hope & Love is most highly recommended.

Jeff Kuzmich

The only thing I can say is that I read this book and time stood still. I was riveted by all the horrors that Patrica recounts in vivid detail, and even wept when I thought about having a child in the NICU for that long! If you ever feel like complaining, read this book. I was amazed how well Patrica captures the essence of a miracle, and the immense treasures that lie in hardship. I think her journal entries those last days in the NICU were particularly effective in recreating the memories for readers. The book is also an eye-opener; for example I never knew that the divorce rate skyrockets for couples with a an extended NICU stay. In any event, after all Patricia experienced and endured, first-hand, she undoubtedly makes an incredibly empathic social worker. This book will also give hope to so many women, couples, and families in similar circumstances.

Dr. Roland Sigler, III

Patricia Batoba Jones, LCSW provides intimate access into the raw pain, emotions, joys, victories, set-backs and sometimes debilitating fear experienced during their Divinely-ordained journey to receiving God's Miraculous Promise in their lives. Prepare to have your faith examined, challenged, strengthened and fortified as you walk with her through this precious process. I'm so proud of her for not only walking triumphantly through the trying of her faith; but, she has also shared HOW "..God has helped her thus far" for all of us to have our Hope in God restore and fortified!

M.J. Chives Author of Bre

A heart wrenching diary surrounding giving birth to a preemie. Becoming a new mom is an exciting, scary adventure. When things go wrong in pregnancy, anxiety and fear begin to attack. It becomes difficult to trust God when the natural world is telling you that all hope is lost. I recently watched my step-daughter go through the NICU journey with our granddaughter and I can attest to the scariness of that situation. This book will be very helpful to those who are presently in the NICU journey, since the author is very technical with details of all the overwhelming medical equipment and terms used to describe what was happening with her daughter. The author also tells of her journey with Lupus and the struggle of her pregnancy while suffering from that disease. Anyone who has an auto-immune disease and wonders if they can make it through pregnancy will be encouraged by the hope and tenacity that Ms Jones portrays in her journey. Madison's journey is not over, so I anticipate that the author will give us another glimpse of her life in the future.

Lisa Tran

This book is so transparent and honest. From conception, pregnancy, NICU, homecoming and ever after, Patricia invites you into a front seat of her life and the struggles she goes through bringing a precious life into this world. Though it would seem at times the journey was nothing less than defeating, she brings a message of hope. She delivers a bold message of how faith, love and hope sustained her during the most difficult time in her life. She offers hope that can apply to anyone that has ever faced a difficult situation. Even when it all seems to be falling apart, there is God who can keep it all together. A good read for anyone who could just use a little encouragement through a hard time!

Kayle Berry

Having spent time in the NICU with our daughter this book really hit home for me. And yes it made me cry. The authors rawness and honesty about her own fears and doubts made mine feel validated and her unwavering faith was such an encouragement. Anyone who's spent time in the NICU with a there change or know someone who has should read this book.

Kate Elliott

A Miracle in the Making, a memoir of a God loving and trusting woman and her family, will leave you wondering how any new parents can deal with the challenges of bringing a 24 week old babe into this world....and watching for five long months as that little one struggles to grow...to survive.
This read was enthralling and although my heart broke reading the journal entries Ms. Batoba Jones kept during those months, I found myself
being touched with a great sense of joy as this family places their trust in God and simply chooses to believe...to know in their hearts and souls...that their baby girl will make it. THANK YOU Patricia for sharing your tale so that others having to cope with the horrors and fear of such an early birth can gain hope and trust.

Pat Greer

This book was beyond inspirational. A true testament to faith, God's plan for our lives. So happy Patricia wanted to share such a personal and intimate account. This book will certainly bless each heart that reads it.