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The Story of a Heart

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The Story of a Heart

By: Rachel Clarke
Narrated by: Rachel Clarke
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About this listen

 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2025
BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE SPECTATOR, NEW STATESMAN, NEW SCIENTIST, AND PROSPECT

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER DEAR LIFE AND BREATHTAKING, A MAJOR TV DRAMA

'What a book . . . The perfect book' Chris Evans on Virgin Radio

'Profoundly moving and at the same time wildly inspiring' Rob Delaney

'Rachel Clarke's finest book yet' Financial Times

'Remarkable' Cosmopolitan

'The best narrative non-fiction I've read in years. Rachel Clarke has written a profound piece of investigative journalism and wrapped it up in poetry' Christie Watson

'This is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL and riveting book: written with such humanity, empathy and knowledge, such tact and drama and eloquence. Vital reading, lifelong revelation' Laura Cumming

The first of our organs to form, the last to die, the heart is both a simple pump and the symbol of all that makes us human: as long as it continues to beat, we hope.

One summer day, nine-year-old Keira suffered catastrophic injuries in a car accident. Though her brain and the rest of her body began to shut down, her heart continued to beat. In an act of extraordinary generosity, Keira's parents and siblings agreed that she would have wanted to be an organ donor. Meanwhile nine-year-old Max had been hospitalised for nearly a year with a virus that was causing his young heart to fail. When Max's parents received the call they had been hoping for, they knew it came at a terrible cost to another family.

This is the unforgettable story of how one family's grief transformed into a lifesaving gift. With tremendous compassion and clarity, Dr Rachel Clarke relates the urgent journey of Keira's heart and explores the history of the remarkable medical innovations that made it possible, stretching back over a century and involving the knowledge and dedication not just of surgeons but of countless physicians, immunologists, nurses and scientists.

The Story of a Heart is a testament to compassion for the dying, the many ways we honour our loved ones, and the tenacity of love.©2024 Rachel Clarke (P)2024 Hachette Audio UK Emergency & Critical Care Medicine & Health Care Industry Physical Illness & Disease Surgery Health Care
All stars
Most relevant
Fantastic compassionate insightful and knowledgeable- a gift to everyone who reads this book - not to be missed

How life is such a gift

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Rachel Clarke - Doctor & Author- does it again for me! I'm a great fan of her words & her work. This one left me sad & happy too because of its nature ... but uplifted by the families who are at the HEART of this book & the amazing HEALTH professionals who give much of themselves to help others. Thank you to the families of Max & Keira for allowing the Story Of A Heart to be shared!

Heart .. Oh such a heartfelt story

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A story of incredible bravery, of all those involved in the heart wrenching story of Keira and Max, two hearts and two families who are forever joined by the selfless gift of a heart. Beautifully read by the author. Some fascinating medical history within a very humanised non-fiction story of a heart.

Such a beautiful, moving book.

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I’m a heart transplant recipient myself and this book demonstrates the incredible journey of a transplant and the incredible teams around it. Beautifully written and narrated. I loved the historical notions amongst the emotions of it all.

An incredible book.

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