The Story of a Heart
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By Rachel Clarke
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2 reviews
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER DEAR LIFE AND BREATHTAKING, A MAJOR TV DRAMA
‘Profoundly moving and at the same time wildly inspiring’ Rob Delaney
‘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
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.
TweetReviews
Wow—what a book! The Story of a Heart is a powerful and thought-provoking read that completely captivated me.
The story follows two families faced with heartbreaking decisions. One family’s son has an inoperable heart condition and urgently needs a transplant. The other family's daughter has been in a devastating car accident, leaving her brain-dead—her parents are now confronted with the unimaginable decision of whether to donate her organs.
The book is rich with information about the history of transplant surgery and includes current statistics for both adult and pediatric transplants. But what truly stayed with me were the deeply emotional accounts from parents, families, and healthcare staff who lived through these moments.
I sobbed multiple times while reading—moved by the stories, the unimaginable choices families had to make, and the heartbreaking reality that so many critically ill children never receive the transplants they need. As someone with a medical background, especially in cardiology, I found this perspective incredibly eye-opening. It offered a side of medicine I don’t often witness in my day-to-day work.
A deeply human, unforgettable read.
A brilliant account of the miraculous world of transplant.
I sea sawed between why would we do this to we should do more. Rachel brings the evolution of medical practice and the voices of all those involved at exactly the right time which helped balance the enormous emotional overwhelm. This account beautifully conveys that we are ultimately beings who care, hope and love.
Would recommend to anyone.
