Thanks to my husband, who not
only supported me in my decision to write this
book but who also typed portions of this
manuscript. Thanks, also, to our niece who lives
with us, to our children, and to friends and
relatives too numerous to mention for their help
and encouragement with this book. Thanks to the
many professionals, including lawyers, doctors,
nurses, counselors in various disciplines, and
members of the clergy for their advice and
referral. Some of these people graciously read
and commented on portions of this manuscript
while others gave me interview time or loaned me
materials. There are simply too many of these
individuals to name each one. Nevertheless, I
thank each.
I am especially grateful to
Reverend Robert Morin and Sister Adrienne de
Champlain for allowing me to utilize some of
their ideas in Chapter Eight.
Thanks to Betty Yerkes, Denise
Cocciolone, and LoriJo Nerad for reading the
first complete draft of this book and offering
suggestions. Thanks to Anna Sullivan and Dr.
Robert Phillips for reading later drafts of this
manuscript and sharing their insightful
comments. Thanks to my editors Rudy Shur, Karen
Price, Joanne Abrams, Nancy Marks Papritz, and
Cynthia Eriksen for being patient as I completed
this book.
To the many people who shared
stories with me for this book, I am deeply
grateful. The women who bore their babies are
the true heroes of this effort.
Last, but most important, I am
grateful to the many people who prayed for me,
for this book, and for those this book will
reach. I also thank Pat R., J. C., and P. R.
Clete, without whom this book would never have
been written.
Madeline Pecora Nugent