"Yes, and..."

A Journey of Hope Through Tragedy

Non-Fiction - Memoir
320 Pages
Reviewed on 04/03/2017
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Sarah Rollins for Readers' Favorite

"Yes, and…": A Journey of Hope Through Tragedy is a moving memoir written by Matthew Croke. The context of the story is incredibly tragic, as Matthew, a loving husband, experiences the devastation of his pregnant wife (only 8 weeks pregnant at the time) and mother-in-law both being diagnosed with cancer. The book is written in a journal format. As a reader, I felt I was brought directly into Matthew’s world, watching the events unfold with him, and hearing his experience and perspective as he came to terms with the fight that lay ahead for his family, including the impact on his other two children. To have two family members being faced with a cancer diagnosis was difficult enough, but on top of that, their unborn child was also in danger, and so Matthew tells how as a family they had to question their priorities and face what lay ahead, with love and hope.

What was impactful about Matthew Croke’s story is that through such obstacles and tragedy he remains strong for his family and you don’t hear him complain about his responsibilities as a dad, and the effect this experience had on him personally. This book showed a unique perspective for me through the eyes of the husband, the onlooker in many respects, as he watched his wife and mother-in-law face their diagnosis and how his unconditional love for his family became his strength, through a time when most people would have crumbled. This is certainly an inspirational tale, and one that any person faced with cancer or tragedy should read, if only to seek comfort and solace through the experiences of someone else. A moving read that I recommend highly.